Mites? Molting? No eggs! Not sure... pics

[GenevieveHad]

Hi guys! So I’m not sure what’s happening with my Bernadette... nobody is laying eggs (out of 4 who have been laying) the sun isn’t out as much but not sure if it’s normal that they’ve all stopped. I haven’t noticed any mites or anything out of the ordinary except Bernadette seems to have broken feathers on her head but nowhere else. I’m attaching pics. This is my first winter with chickens so I’m wanting to make sure they’re 100% healthy before it starts to get super cold.
Thanks!!

 

[ChickNanny13]

Lacking eggs sounds to be weather/climate/season related Is that Bernadette in the first picture? The neck looks like it's pin feathering, can't really make it out. How old are they? They could be molting, do you see feathers around in their coop?

 

[GenevieveHad]

It’s all Bernadette. They were born in April. I feel like it looks like molting but it’s only on her head?

 

[EggWalrus]

It sure looks like molting, but most birds don't molt till they are 18-24 months old, but stranger things have happened.

 

[GenevieveHad]

That’s what I thought! I’ll keep an eye on her, but I just wanted to post and ask some others’ opinions in case I was missing something. Didn’t want to be a neglectful chicken keeper.

 

[EggWalrus]

That’s what I thought! I’ll keep an eye on her, but I just wanted to post and ask some others’ opinions in case I was missing something. Didn’t want to be a neglectful chicken keeper.

I'm glad you are a responsible chicken keeper. There are a few that are very negligent in the husbandry of their wards. Remember, the only stupid questions are the ones that aren't asked.

 

[Better Than Rubies]

Five of my chickens are around nine-months old, and already two of them are molting (and those two started pretty recently, but completely stopped laying in earlier November)...my Black Sex Link is starting out molting on her head, and now neck, while my Silver Laced Wyandotte's molting progress has started at her bum--er, rather, she's lost her tail feathers, and she's molting slower than the other one, it seems. Your chicken is (absolutely gorgeous!) very possibly molting, too? And yes, in the winter it's normal for chickens to slow down in egg production. My Barred Rock is still laying very faithfully just about every day, though, and my Amberlink laid literally EVERY day before being brutally murdered by a dog. :-( My Production Red was laying like my Barred Rock for a while, but sadly, that seems to be coming to an end, and so now I've just been getting one egg a day.

 

[EggWalrus]

Five of my chickens are around nine-months old, and already two of them are molting (and those two started pretty recently, but completely stopped laying in earlier November)...my Black Sex Link is starting out molting on her head, and now neck, while my Silver Laced Wyandotte's molting progress has started at her bum--er, rather, she's lost her tail feathers, and she's molting slower than the other one, it seems. Your chicken is (absolutely gorgeous!) very possibly molting, too? And yes, in the winter it's normal for chickens to slow down in egg production. My Barred Rock is still laying very faithfully just about every day, though, and my Amberlink laid literally EVERY day before being brutally murdered by a dog. :-( My Production Red was laying like my Barred Rock for a while, but sadly, that seems to be coming to an end, and so now I've just been getting one egg a day.

Sorry to hear about the loss of your Amberlink. May she rest in peace.

 

[Better Than Rubies]

Sorry to hear about the loss of your Amberlink. May she rest in peace.

Thank you, EggWalrus...you're so kind. I appreciate that.

 

[EggWalrus]

Thank you, EggWalrus...you're so kind. I appreciate that.

Aw shucks! I dindu nuffins!
Thanks though!