Molting or something else?

[Micmac1234]

what do you guys think? She’s acting normal.

 

[azygous]

Molt begins up around the head and neck and works its way down the body, ending with wings and tail feathers. What I see on this little lady is rooster damage. Got a roo?

How old is she? If she's less than a year old, it's going to be a long time before she molts.

 

[Micmac1234]

Molt begins up around the head and neck and works its way down the body, ending with wings and tail feathers. What I see on this little lady is rooster damage. Got a roo?

How old is she? If she's less than a year old, it's going to be a long time before she molts.

Nope, no rooster… but she’s only 20 weeks! Definitely not molting then.

 

[azygous]

No rooster, so then some other hen or pullet has a grudge against her and is picking her back feathers. Often this occurs as they dirt bathe. Try to watch to see who the culprit is. It's behavior you want to try to break. When you've identified the perpetrator, come back her and we'll talk about ways to stop it.

 

[Micmac1234]

No rooster, so then some other hen or pullet has a grudge against her and is picking her back feathers. Often this occurs as they dirt bathe. Try to watch to see who the culprit is. It's behavior you want to try to break. When you've identified the perpetrator, come back her and we'll talk about ways to stop it.

Thank you!!! You’re just helping with all of my questions lol I’ll keep an eye on them. Poor Daisy

 

[theoldchick]

Usually when a hen is molting you should see pinfeathers growing. This does appear to be from a rooster over-mating. You can put a hen-saver on her to help her. You can make your own or buy one. http://www.hensaver.com/hen-saver-hen-apron-saddle.html

 

[Micmac1234]

Thank you!!! You’re just helping with all of my questions lol I’ll keep an eye on them. Poor Daisy

No rooster, so then some other hen or pullet has a grudge against her and is picking her back feathers. Often this occurs as they dirt bathe. Try to watch to see who the culprit is. It's behavior you want to try to break. When you've identified the perpetrator, come back her and we'll talk about ways to stop it.

No rooster, so then some other hen or pullet has a grudge against her and is picking her back feathers. Often this occurs as they dirt bathe. Try to watch to see who the culprit is. It's behavior you want to try to break. When you've identified the perpetrator, come back her and we'll talk about ways to stop it.

i found the culprit

 

[Micmac1234]

Usually when a hen is molting you should see pinfeathers growing. This does appear to be from a rooster over-mating. You can put a hen-saver on her to help her. You can make your own or buy one. http://www.hensaver.com/hen-saver-hen-apron-saddle.html

I don’t have a rooster but I have spotted the chicken that is doing it

 

[azygous]

Two things you can try. One is to peck her firmly on her back when you catch her in the act. Or sit out there with a squirt gun and soak her. This may work if you can be consistent and do it often.

The more practical method is pinless peepers. They sit on the beak and inhibit forward vision. They can still see up and down to spot danger and to eat. I leave them on for about six to eight weeks and then remove them. The behavior usually does not resume.

Be aware that this feather picking behavior is often seasonal. It tapers off in fall and winter and picks back up in spring again.

 

[Micmac1234]

Two things you can try. One is to peck her firmly on her back when you catch her in the act. Or sit out there with a squirt gun and soak her. This may work if you can be consistent and do it often.

The more practical method is pinless peepers. They sit on the beak and inhibit forward vision. They can still see up and down to spot danger and to eat. I leave them on for about six to eight weeks and then remove them. The behavior usually does not resume.

Be aware that this feather picking behavior is often seasonal. It tapers off in fall and winter and picks back up in spring again.

So I have been out there with the spray bottle today and I think it’s helping! She does not like being sprayed. However, the one being pecked at, Daisy, seems a little lethargic. I was dropping so grit for them on the ground and all of the chickens always run away when I drop it and she just stood there. She’s also heavily favoring her left leg (so the right one is bugging her) and it seems like when she’s walking sometimes her right leg will just give out. I tried to pick her up and she pecked at me so I don’t know if it hurt her or what. Her foot looks fine and her leg looks fine too so nothing surface level. She also pooped 4 times in a matter of 5 minutes and the first two looked kind of hard and all 4 were very small…