Molting or Mites??

[ohthathen]

I have a very well loved flock of 10 hens and 3 lady ducks. This will be their second winter and they are dropping feathers like CRAZY. I'm pretty sure its just molting but I would love some second opinions!! Ive checked roosts and such for mites but dont see any signs. All of the chickens are acting normal except for the ones with major feather loss wont let me pick them up like they usually do. This could be because the pin feather things are more sensitive? The main reason I think it isnt mites is because all 3 of the ducks aren't losing any featers. The chickens skin doesnt seem irritated but ive never seen chickens this naked! I'll attatch some pictures

 

[ohthathen]

 

[ShellyBear]

Looks like molting but check your chickens again and look and see if you can find any mites just in case.

 

[MrsBrooke]

Looks like molting to me.

MrsB

 

[ohthathen]

Thanks! They're being really squirrley so I'll have to wait for my parents get back and can help. I checked the couple I caught and didnt see anything but I'll do a more thorough search when i have some help. If it is molting how long until the feathers grow back? Its starting to get colder out

 

[MrsBrooke]

Feather growth depends on the chicken, but supplementing with higher protein foods like meal worms and Feather Fixer can help them regrow feathers.

You can most easily find evidence of lice and mites at the base of the feathers near the vent.

MrsB

 

[ohthathen]

Okay! I'll pick some up for them. Should I worry about them getting too cold?

 

[Teila]

Hi there ohthathen and welcome to BYC

Yep, looks like moulting to me also.

Definitely agree with upping the protein during the moult to help with feather regrowth.

You may find that they become a little sulky while moulting .. I have one who hides under the coop and does not want to come out.

Also, try and keep the handling to a minimum as you are right in that the pin feathers are sensitive and they do not like being picked up.

Sorry, I can not help with the “too cold” query .. living in Aus, that is not really an issue.

 

[Ballerina Bird]

Thanks! They're being really squirrley so I'll have to wait for my parents get back and can help. I checked the couple I caught and didnt see anything but I'll do a more thorough search when i have some help. If it is molting how long until the feathers grow back? Its starting to get colder out

That looks like molting to me, and yes, they definitely feel sensitive and do not want to be picked up when molting. It varies how long it takes. I have one who started about a month ago and is almost done, but others can take over three months. X2 on @MrsBrooke 's suggestion to give them Feather Fixer -- mine always look great after molt when I feed them that.

 

[Ballerina Bird]

Okay! I'll pick some up for them. Should I worry about them getting too cold?

I think you have to be somewhere really, really cold for that to be a problem. Chickens generate a lot of heat when they sit close to each other in the coop.