MISSING MUFFS & BEARD?

[Fawn and Fam]

We've just arrived home from a 9 day vacation. It is the 1st time we've left our two pet pullets. The one that has muffs and a beard no longer has them! Her bare white skin is exposed on her cheeks and neck. I'm pretty sure she's not molting because she isn't missing any other feathers, there are no feathers in the coop/run, and she just went through a light molt in October. My best guess is that her sister plucked them from the stress of us being gone. I do know chickens will pluck other's feathers when they aren't getting enough protein, however that has never happened w/ mine. I just don't think that is the case because while we were gone the only thing they were given to eat was their layer pellets, flock block, and a tiny handful of cracked corn each day. They both layed eggs 8 out of the 9 days. Our sitter did say that a few days he gave two tiny handfuls of cracked corn when the temp was in the single digits. It doesn't seem to me that would be enough to make her pluck feathers for protein though.

The only other two things that were different while we were gone was that I noticed he didn't give them near enough grit. Also he used his well tap water for their outdoor waterer which is different from what they are used to. The water I give them is the proper PH for chickens and I put vitamins in it. However their inside water was their normal water because I filled it all the way before I left so he never had to refill it.

Do you think one of these things were the cause or could there be another reason how/why this happened that I'm not aware of?

 

[Mei&Popcorn]

I have a hen that is often missing her beard feathers - she doesn't seem to mind them picked out! I've seen other hens pick out her feathers, and she just stands there and doesn't do anything... Feather picking is sometimes from boredom, though. How big is your coop?

Honestly, I don't know why they pick out each other's beards (I never see them pick out any other feathers). Maybe there was food stuck on her beard?

 

[gander007]

I have noticed this myself and just put it to the pecking order
and it really %$#*&^** me off for this is the reason I got the
EE chickens in the first place and the different color egg's ..

 

[Fawn and Fam]

@Mei&Popcorn : That is a good thought but they have TONS of room in the coop and run since it is just the two of them so I know that's not the problem. Also both of her muffs are completely gone and she has bald spots at least the size of quarters on each of her cheeks

.

@gander007 : Did you mean you got EE's for their cute muffs & beards or because they are supposed to have a sweet disposition?

 

[gander007]

Actually booth muffs & beards and their sweet disposition ......

gander007

 

[Fawn and Fam]

Me too.....she WAS sooo beautiful, not so much anymore

.

 

[Nambroth]

I have a hen that is often missing her beard feathers - she doesn't seem to mind them picked out! I've seen other hens pick out her feathers, and she just stands there and doesn't do anything... Feather picking is sometimes from boredom, though. How big is your coop?

Honestly, I don't know why they pick out each other's beards (I never see them pick out any other feathers). Maybe there was food stuck on her beard?

I have an EE and two Faverolles, all three have full muffs and a beard. And yep-- for whatever reason, they don't seem to care if another chicken plucks them off! Sometimes this happens gradually, sometimes within a few hours. It is the only form of feather picking my birds have ever done. They seem to think that chickens aren't supposed to have face poof, and give each other a trim!

 

[gander007]

I believe this what is meant by being hen pecked

I do so much enjoy the facial plumage, color of the feathers, color of the egg's and all around attitude of the EE's ......

gander007