Molting or getting picked on?

[hlhutchinson]

when do chickens normally start molting? I’m thinking not in the middle of winter correct.
Chicky has lost her tail feathers and some on her head and back of her neck.
We have 4 chickens in a 4x4 coop attached to a 10x4 run that they always have access to. Then they free range in the back yard throughout the day on and off. due to snow they have decided to stay in the run some days.
Do you think She’s getter pick on. They all get along really well it is rare I see them fight and when they do it is normaly a very short squabble and Chicky has always held her own. I have no idea who is the top of the pecking order. When on the roost they always switch places does not seam to be one in charge that I can’t tell.

How she looked with all her feathers

How she looks now

Windy but this bottom one shoes her missing tail feathers

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Looks more like a molt. Some will go through mini or neck molts in the spring, and molts in general have been off this past season, starting later than usual.

 

[Chickassan]

Yeah, that looks like a mini molt for sure. Molting isn't an exact science, you know kind of when to expect it but in the end it's the chickens call.

 

[Peeps61]

Looks like molting to me. I have a few molting now, but most that molted began in September and were finished by early December.

 

[hlhutchinson]

Thank you I feel better I love that my chickens get along and made me sad thinking she was getting pick on in secret

 

[tigger19687]

Funny you post this. I just noticed that one of the girls has this but mine looks a bit worse due to darker colors around the neck.
Mine is molting too but this one is the only one that looks bad around the neck.
It makes their face look bad too

 

[Chickassan]

All mine except one started molting in October and were done by December, they looked and acted awful. The last hen started molting about a week ago she looks bad she feels bad and hates everyone right now.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Mine molted so hard they looked like they fell into a whizbang drum.

 

[hlhutchinson]

Poor chickens

 

[aart]

Looks like a molt to me too.
Look for pin feathers, picking generally breaks rather than plucks feathers,
new feathers won't grow back in unless fully plucked.
How old is she?
Had a ~2yo hen molt starting early Jan.....but am using lights so that can screw things up.