Heihei1923
Chirping
- Jun 29, 2020
- 33
- 48
- 76
Chickens are 13 months old, born mid sept. last year... last week I noticed my black Australorps feathers everywhere. Got nervous there was a feather plucker again as my silver Wyandotte got hers pulled out while she was laying her first egg. I started watching them even closer. But no bullying or anything going on that I could catch. No weird behavior etc. then while watching her preening herself I watched a few fall out. Over the next 4-5 days just more and more feathers. I picked her up to look for lice or mites, but nothing, I was shocked how clean her skin was actually.
But when I picked her up, she didn’t feel soft and fluffy like usual. She felt like a porcupine. Soon as I lifted up the protective feathers, she was basically naked with quills that looked like straws with a head of a feather coming through. From what iv read this sounds like a molt so I was relieved. She also looked : looks really raggity, her down feathers popping thru like they haven’t in the past. Iv just read that they molt after 18 months so I’m curious if she’s just early because of when they where born and this is the time of year they molt? I also attached a picture of a bald patch by her neck that popped up over the last 2-3 days.
Opinions?
But when I picked her up, she didn’t feel soft and fluffy like usual. She felt like a porcupine. Soon as I lifted up the protective feathers, she was basically naked with quills that looked like straws with a head of a feather coming through. From what iv read this sounds like a molt so I was relieved. She also looked : looks really raggity, her down feathers popping thru like they haven’t in the past. Iv just read that they molt after 18 months so I’m curious if she’s just early because of when they where born and this is the time of year they molt? I also attached a picture of a bald patch by her neck that popped up over the last 2-3 days.
Opinions?
