Molting

[autumn123]

Thank you. I am checking her out today. She's usually so feisty so I was worried. If mites, I can handle that.

 

[fergusonlitch]

Our chickens first winter and we believe the first molt. Chickens are 7months. So, molting or something else?

Next question: Why molt in the winter, when you'd think having more feathers would be beneficial?

 

[Happy Chooks]

Our chickens first winter and we believe the first molt. Chickens are 7months. So, molting or something else?

Next question: Why molt in the winter, when you'd think having more feathers would be beneficial?

That looks like rooster wear.

Tattered feathers don't retain heat, and they need new feathers for spring for keeping offspring warm.

 

[fergusonlitch]

And rooster wear is.... If it requires a rooster, we don't have one, unless one of the dominant hens is causing it.

 

[Happy Chooks]

And rooster wear is.... If it requires a rooster, we don't have one, unless one of the dominant hens is causing it.

Have you checked them for lice/mites? It could be feather picking also.

 

[mrballance]

Our chickens first winter and we believe the first molt. Chickens are 7months. So, molting or something else?

Next question: Why molt in the winter, when you'd think having more feathers would be beneficial?

 

[mrballance]

Molt in winter to shed summer feathers and get winter feathers. Should be a light molt and not last long.

 

[Junibutt]

My Australorp lost her tail during the molt in February. By late March she had grown beautiful feathers all over but is missing her tail. I think she was pecked a little around there when she was molting. Now even after a month of having recovered and being fluffy all over, she looks like an Aracauna. Is there anything I can do to get her tail back? Shall I pull out the tiny feathers she has on the tail including the pinwheel? I was thinking that will encourage her to regrow that tail. Everyone is getting a healthy dose of meal-worms every other day plus some other proteins from kitchen scrap.

 

[Steve and Penny]

We have 2 girls, had them around a month now from POL and all started well, 2 eggs a day :0). Recently 1 seems to have stopped laying, now the 2nd has stopped / slowed down. We collected a load of oyster shells to help with calcium levels which worked for a bit but they've slowed up again. They have also been blowing snot bubbles occasionally on there beaks, is this normal? There are a couple of feathers on their poop tray today but I can't feel any spiky new feathers coming through.

 

[Nofowlplay]

My newby girl is liosing lots of feathers! I brought her home by herself to add to my flock of 3 . At first she was not eating much but now she is doing very well. Could the move and change iof food be causing her to molt early? She is about 8 months old. Her old home was very over crowded....she has plenty of room now. Getting chased a lot at times by the older girls, but not much harassment other than that.
Should I be worried? I sprayed her with Manna Pro poultry protector when she first got here. I don't think it's mites....she was in a concrete pen in her old home. And has been treated.
My original 3 girls are not dropping any feathers. They are about 10 months old. I have had them for 6 months and newby girl has been with me for 3 weeks.