Molting in July?!

[DanielleT]

Hello,
I'm still fairly new to raising chickens, but i thought chickens melted in the fall and spring. I have 1 hen that I don't know her age. She was found and given to me. Tonight, when I was putting them up for the night, I noticed that she has a naked spot on the under side of her chest. Could it be molting or something else? It was too dark to get a good picture, so I will take one in the morning.

 

[Ravynscroft]

Molt can happen any time of the year, broodys tend to molt after they brood chicks...

I'd check her for lice and mites though, just to be safe...

 

[DanielleT]

Molt can happen any time of the year, broodys tend to molt after they brood chicks...

I'd check her for lice and mites though, just to be safe...

If it is lice or mites, what do I use to treat her? If she had them, would my other girls have them too? Can I get them?

 

[Ravynscroft]

Look for Garden and Poultry dust, it contains Permethrin... yes, if she has them then all will need to be dusted... and coop cleaned and dusted... no, you can't get poultry lice... they like feathers...

 

[DanielleT]

Look for Garden and Poultry dust, it contains Permethrin... yes, if she has them then all will need to be dusted... and coop cleaned and dusted... no, you can't get poultry lice... they like feathers...

I looked for mites and lice and didn't see anything. I went ahead and dusted all of my girls with DE, just to be safe. I try to put some in their dusting spots, and I sprinkle it in their nesting boxes too. Her skin looks normal to me, not red and scaley, so I'm hoping it's just her starting to molt. Is there anything else that could cause feather loss like this? She's the alpha hen, so I know the other ones aren't picking on her.

 

[Ravynscroft]

Might just be molt... or she may be thinking of going broody?

 

[DanielleT]

Might just be molt... or she may be thinking of going broody?

My friend just suggested going broody too. I'll have to start following her to see if she has a secret nest