Moulting?

[Bonnie G]

Hi everyone!

Just looking for some advice, I’m not sure if my hen is moulting or if something else is causing this.

I’ve got 2 out of 4 hens that are going through this, but this one is the worst. I was expecting them to moult in the fall (when everyone else’s were, but they didn’t). My hens are about a year old now.

I let them outside today to clean the coop out. AI is pretty bad here (SW Ontario), so I’ve been keeping them inside.

Thanks in advance!!!

 

[Bonwell]

I had a chicken moult throughout April, and I know some people's birds were a little late with moulting this year. Yours would have been very young this past fall, so it makes sense as to why they didn't moult then. But just to make sure, how big is their inside coop they've been in? Have the other 2 been attacking these 2?

 

[SilverBirds]

They are most likely doing their one year old molt.

Have you checked for lice/mites? Have the other birds been pecking at these two?

 

[Tonyroo]

Molting occurs when they are at age whatever season it happens to be at the time.

It does look like there molting, so they will likely molt this winter also.

 

[aart]

Molting is usually dictated by length of day.....and fall/winter is the usual time to molt.
However if you use supplemental lighting it can affect the molt cycle, as can other kinds of stresses.

Look for pin feathers coming in, and bugs.

 

[Bonnie G]

I had a chicken moult throughout April, and I know some people's birds were a little late with moulting this year. Yours would have been very young this past fall, so it makes sense as to why they didn't moult then. But just to make sure, how big is their inside coop they've been in? Have the other 2 been attacking these 2?

That would make sense to me too! I always wondered why they moulted in the fall instead of the spring, wouldn’t they want to keep all their feathers before it got cold and replace them when it’s about to get warm? But I guess it’s not fur and they’re not dogs or cats lol.

They have about 250 sq ft… I’ve got a huge coop and only 5 (1 rooster) in there. I don’t think it’s from him excessively mating with her, wouldn’t those feather losses just be on her back not the neck? The one it’s particularly bad on is the pretty high, if not top, on the pecking order

 

[Bonnie G]

Molting is usually dictated by length of day.....and fall/winter is the usual time to molt.
However if you use supplemental lighting it can affect the molt cycle, as can other kinds of stresses.

Look for pin feathers coming in, and bugs.

I didn’t give them any supplemental light, but the coop has big south facing windows and got lots of light all winter!! I’ll do a good check for bugs today

 

[Bonnie G]

Thanks everyone for their suggestions and help! I will do a good check for mites and bugs today, hopefully it’s just their 1 year moult and not something like a mite problem. I’m going to find other posts about mites, I’m new to chickens and don’t quite know what to look for. Or even how to treat for that matter.

 

[Bonwell]

Thanks everyone for their suggestions and help! I will do a good check for mites and bugs today, hopefully it’s just their 1 year moult and not something like a mite problem. I’m going to find other posts about mites, I’m new to chickens and don’t quite know what to look for. Or even how to treat for that matter.

Based on all what I'm hearing, I would guess it's just their first adult moult

 

[Bonnie G]

Based on all what I'm hearing, I would guess it's just their first adult moult you have plenty of space, and if It was bugs I would've thought the others would've had it as well.

Thank you!! I appreciate your help She’s awfully scraggly looking… Poor gal! Hopefully she’ll be back to normal soon enough.