Moulting?? Pullet not laying lost tail and some neck feathers

[dunnmom]

Molting can take anywhere from 3 months to 2 weeks. It varies from bird to bird. Some are very slow molters, dropping feathers so gradually that you hardly notice it. Others go almost completely bald in a few hours. Growing those feathers back in takes up all their energy, leaving nothing left for egg production.

What she said, she beat me to it.

 

[dunnmom]

If you opt to catch her for inspection, keep in mind molting chickens do NOT like to be handled. It can hurt their sensitive skin. However, if you bother to check for parasites, also look for new pinfeathers either emerging, or just under the skin.

 

[dunnmom]

When I check for parasites, I catch my easiest to handle hens and inspect them. If one has mites or lice, the others will almost always have it too.

 

[MBH]

If you opt to catch her for inspection, keep in mind molting chickens do NOT like to be handled. It can hurt their sensitive skin. However, if you bother to check for parasites, also look for new pinfeathers either emerging, or just under the skin.

Ok will do. We are trying to get her to trust us more, the other two will eat out of our hands and let our boys pet them. She has always been more skiddish than the rest. We will try and carefully catch her without causing too much distress and check her feathers.

Thank you!!

 

[dunnmom]

Another thing to note is that parasites are hard to see on dark feathered chickens. Maybe try scotch or clear packing tape wrapped around a finger sticky side out to see if you pick up any critters from the skin around the feather shafts. I know it's easier said than done.

 

[MBH]

Another thing to note is that parasites are hard to see on dark feathered chickens. Maybe try scotch or clear packing tape wrapped around a finger sticky side out to see if you pick up any critters from the skin around the feather shafts. I know it's easier said than done.

Oh that's great to know I will try that. What do I do if I have them..? We like our girls to free range we keep as natural run as we can and use fresh hay.

 

[coach723]

Here is a good link with pictures for help identifying lice/mites, and some treatment suggestions. http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/08/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification.html
It's more likely she's molting, look for pinfeathers coming in, but it's always a good idea to check periodically for any lice/mites so you can get them before they are really bad. If she's difficult to catch, wait until after dark when she's roosting. They tend to be calmer then, and much easier to catch. Some mites are only visible at night when they come out to feed also, so checking then with a bright flashlight is a good idea anyway.

 

[dunnmom]

Agreed. Night is a better time for a close inspection. Do you have a headlamp? If not, I recommend them highly for night-time inspections.