Molting?

[Justhatched]

My girls are 24 weeks and I have noticed on Sweetie that she had some missing feathers. Now she has a bit of a bald spot on her back where the tail feathers are. It's about the size of a silver dollar. I thought it was from a dog attach a couple weeks ago. She got out and the dogs pulled out a bunch of her feathers. I wasn't able to see her skin though. That was a few weeks ago. Now I see her skin. I have not seen anyone pull her feathers. I also noticed some new feathers on my girls. We had some days that were pretty cold ( I don't remember how cold ) and so I thought they might be "winter" feathers. Kinda like a dog with his winter coat. I only noticed it on a few of my Sex Links. I didn't see it on my Orpintons or Brahams. I need to figure how to put a picture. I took one a few days ago. What do you think? Molt? If it is a molt how will they be in the winter?

I was thinking their egg production was going down. For the past two days we got 2 eggs out of 12. We got 6 today. The most we have gotten was 9 so that's not too bad. I don't know what it could be.

Thanks.

 

[galanie]

They're too young to go into full molt but they do have mini molts until they're fully grown. A bare spot though, that doesn't sound right for a 24 week old. Someone has plucked out some feathers or something. Do you have a roo? If so, he is the culprit most likely, from mounting her.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote:
Agree. It's possible she's pulling them out also.

 

[Justhatched]

No roo with the girls. I noticed lice and mites on some of them. I plan to treat today. Thanks!

 

[Justhatched]

Quote:
Agree. It's possible she's pulling them out also.

Why would she pull them out?

 

[Happy Chooks]

Lice/mites or boredom.