Molting or?

[artsyrobin]

My head hen, Donna, RIR is dropping feathers at the barest touch- gave her a bath to see if i could see mites.... nope-

any ideas?

 

[CMV]

Looks like molting to me. Here's link to what to expect when laying hens molt.

http://msucares.com/poultry/management/poultry_feathers.html

Good luck.

P.S.- That bird looks mad at you!

 

[dawg53]

It's the time of the year for molt, it's normal.

 

[artsyrobin]

thanks! yes she is not happy in that picture! she didn't appreciate the bath- and will be reunited with the flock in the morning- didn't want her to catch a chill- i have non-chicken birds and they molt gradually- this is the first one i have ever seen drop feathers in such massive amounts!

 

[FrizzlesRule]

Definitely moulting. When my Belgian D'Uccles moult, I usually have a handful of feathers after I pick them up. They come out in bunches.

 

[the209jungalist]

My rooster Blanco is molting right now too, he is about a month late compared to my other chickens. Blanco looks tore up right now!

 

[Kittymomma]

Yep! My coop looks like the site of a pillow fight gone horribly wrong and a few of the girls look positively pre-plucked. I just love how these silly chickens lose all their "clothes" just before winter.

 

[Highlander]

Are you sure Donna is not Donald?

 

[tammyd57]

Quote:

I was thinking the same thing!

One of my hens is going through a really bad molt too. She looks like she went through a garbage disposal!

But her sister is looking lovelier than ever!

 

[spikennipper]

Quote:
Me too! looks like a roo to me! pretty sure he is molting though.