Molting? Frostbite? Are my new ladies ok?

[Noymira]

Hi everyone! I just got these two hens on Saturday, and I want to make sure they are ok, or if I need to be watching for something. I'm new to chickens, and these ladies were kept in a small coop without a lot of protection this past winter. I haven't had much hands on time with them yet, I'm honestly not sure how to go about picking one up. I've tried hand feeding them, but so far they will not eat out of my hand and run away if I try to touch them. I have not pushed the issue, since we've only had them 2 days, I'm hoping they'll get used to me with time and let me closer.

It appears they are both losing the feathers on their necks, are the just molting? All the posts I could find about molting seem to indicate this is not the time of year for that, I was told they are a year old this month.

Our red hen, possibly a partridge rock, also has some lighter color on the top of her comb, is that frostbite or just a natural color variation?

The white rock is losing feathers left and right (the fluffy downy ones mostly), they are all over the ground! The white one also seems to stand around on one foot sometimes, but seems to switch feet. Should I be watching her feet or is that just a behavioral thing? The other hen has not done that at all.

I may just be paranoid, but I don't want to miss something obvious due to inexperience.

 

[Imp]

I don't think that comb looks like frostbite, looks pretty normal to me. Are they young? Laying yet? Pullets may have paler combs.

Not the right time for molting, but could be a mini molt.
Maybe they are pecking each other?
Check for parasites- http://ohioline.osu.edu/vme-fact/0018.html

Check the white one's feet for bumblefoot (Abscesses) swollen places with a scab.

Imp- pretty birds

 

[Patricia Jane]

No expert here but I agree with Imp, check for parasites. As for not eating out of your hand, don't worry it takes alittle bit of time before they settle down.
It took mine awhile. I've had mine for 3 months and one just loves to be held and I can pet one and the others don't have much to do with me unless I have treats. Good luck and enjoy. I'm sure they will be fine.

 

[Noymira]

Thank you both, I'll check for parasites. I don't think they are pecking each other, they seem to get along very well actually, the WR calls for the PR every time she goes out of her site under the coop. I have yet to see them act even the least bit aggressive towards each other, when I check on them at dusk they are usually cuddled up on the perch right next to each other. Hopefully I can get a hold of the white one soon and check her feet. They are a year old this month, so maybe the comb color is natural.

They are already associating me with meal worm treats, so I think I'm winning them over. I brought them an earthworm my daughter and I found playing on the lawn last night and we watched a good game of keep away while they ran around with it. This morning when I brought them the leftover banana slices from my daughter's breakfast the PR came right to me and almost let me touch her, so maybe this week I'll get to pick them up.