Molting or bullying?

[sooartsyfartsy]

Hoping for some advice - I’m chicken sitting for a friend who has 16 adult ISA Browns.

For the past few weeks we have noticed bare spots on their necks (on just a few hens). We assumed it was a molting situation, but today we noticed the skin is a bit more red and irritated, as well as some dried blood spots. I’m new to chickens, so don’t know what call to make. It’s only happening to about 5. A few of them def look like it may be molting - the skin isn’t red and irritated and the feathers don’t look “broken” off or yanked out. But then few do!

They all seem to be getting along fine, and are happy, and very friendly (even to each other seemingly). If this IS molting, would we see blood spots? Would some of the areas look like the feathers were broken off (little bits still inside skin), or with mounting, does the FULL feather come completely out cleanly in one piece?

They basically free range all day and roost inside at night, have a wonderful, safe area. Our weather is nice - not too cold or too hot. She treats them like queens and spares nothing for their comfort and care. They aren’t any stressors I can think of. In case it’s a situation where they’re needing more protein, we’ve been giving them more meal worms. Should we isolate the bullied hens since we can’t figure out WHO the bully would be (if there is one)?

Any help and advice would be so appreciated - I told her if anyone would know, it would be the chicken experts on this forum. Thanks in advance!

 

[Blue Raptor]

Hoping for some advice - I’m chicken sitting for a friend who has 16 adult ISA Browns.

For the past few weeks we have noticed bare spots on their necks (on just a few hens). We assumed it was a molting situation, but today we noticed the skin is a bit more red and irritated, as well as some dried blood spots. I’m new to chickens, so don’t know what call to make. It’s only happening to about 5. A few of them def look like it may be molting - the skin isn’t red and irritated and the feathers don’t look “broken” off or yanked out. But then few do!

They all seem to be getting along fine, and are happy, and very friendly (even to each other seemingly). If this IS molting, would we see blood spots? Would some of the areas look like the feathers were broken off (little bits still inside skin), or with mounting, does the FULL feather come completely out cleanly in one piece?

They basically free range all day and roost inside at night, have a wonderful, safe area. Our weather is nice - not too cold or too hot. She treats them like queens and spares nothing for their comfort and care. They aren’t any stressors I can think of. In case it’s a situation where they’re needing more protein, we’ve been giving them more meal worms. Should we isolate the bullied hens since we can’t figure out WHO the bully would be (if there is one)?

Any help and advice would be so appreciated - I told her if anyone would know, it would be the chicken experts on this forum. Thanks in advance!

It’s not molting, it’s picking. You can try watching the flock first to see if you can spot the pickers, but most likely they’re just at the bottom of the pecking order and everyone is doing it. You can try to keep them away from the rest of the flock. I’m not much of an expert on bullying, all of the hens that are bullied in my flock I just give extra attention. They keep their distance or get picked up by me if they’re being picked on. You can’t do much to shift the pecking order, but you can try to help her not get her feathers picked off.

You can try to distract the flock, free ranging helps a lot, also having a place to dust bathe and roost. You can mention these to your friend.

 

[sooartsyfartsy]

Thanks so much for the info - and the advice! We will probably be separating them to figure it all out.

 

[Paz]

You can go late in the evening and see if they sleep on the floor, which probably means they’re being picked by the others. If they sleep on the floor, getting them separate sleeping poles would make them happy. I would suggest having a few different spots for food and water, and different nests. So they can have all their needs met with as little bullying as possible.

 

[sooartsyfartsy]

You can go late in the evening and see if they sleep on the floor, which probably means they’re being picked by the others. If they sleep on the floor, getting them separate sleeping poles would make them happy. I would suggest having a few different spots for food and water, and different nests. So they can have all their needs met with as little bullying as possible.

Thanks for the advice and sorry for the late reply - we’re still working it out but it’s going pretty smooth!