Moulting or picked on

[Justhatched]

What is the difference between a chicken moulting or being picked on. I have two girls I think are moulting but I noticed a different one picking on one that is moulting. Both of the ones moulting I think are going through mini moults. I was with them today and couldn't help but wonder if they are being picked on vs. moulting. The only thing that I notice is a small amount of missing feathers. Both around the rump.

Edited to add: I don't have any roosters and only noticed today 1 was being "grumpy" with others.

 

[aoxa]

You would most likely see dried blood on picked feathers. If they are molting you will know it. I find they get grumpier/uglier/whinier

My Delaware is picking on anyone who gets close.. Almost like a female on her period.

 

[Cowgirl71]

Are you able to post pics?

 

[Justhatched]

This is one of the chickens. It started off like this

Then went to this

and

The other one:

These were taken a few weeks ago. They aren't missing any more feathers than what the pictures show. I hope you could see what I see. One of them has feathers in a circular form and the other one is straight across the rump.

 

[Cowgirl71]

That looks like feather picking to me. I had a case of it last year. I was trying to confine some POL pullets in their coop and run to train them where to lay their eggs, but they were used to free ranging and they got bored.

If your hens were molting their feathering would look very "patchy," with old feathers and bright shiny new feathers mixed in, especially on their chests and shoulders.

 

[Justhatched]

Quote:
Okay. Is there something I could put on them to stop the picking?

 

[Cowgirl71]

I've heard of places that sell anti-pick stuff. It's supposed to taste really nasty which keeps them from pecking each others feathers. This would help the feathers grow back. A "chicken saddle" could also help.

You're gonna have to do something though to keep them from pecking in the future. Feather picking is caused by any or all of the following: lack of protein, overcrowding, or boredom.

There's a few things you can try in addition to some anti pick stuff...
- upping their percentage protein
- enlarging their coop and/or pen area (each hen should have minimum 10 square feet total coop/run space)
- downsize the flock
- provide things to alleviate boredom (for example a cabbage hanging from the ceiling)
- free ranging (this is really your best bet, assuming you're in an area where free ranging is possible)

Hope this helps!

 

[Happy Chooks]

That's feather picking. Molting looks like this, although this hen was going through a hard molt:

 

[Schwartzfarmnc]

Could a molt also induce or enhance feather picking all at the same time?

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote:
Yes. Last year my light brahma was the last to molt. Someone was picking at her tail feathers trying to come in. I could see the blood from the broken shafts of the pins. I ended up using "no pick" and her tail feathers finally grew in. No issues since.