MY CHICKENS ARE PLUCKING THEMSELVES TO DEATH

[NatJ]

have you considered that they might be molting?

Just what I was thinking, when I read that they've stopped laying and the tail feathers are gone too.

(And now I wonder why we didn't all think of this before--the thread was started in early December, so the right time of year for molting. Or maybe it was feather picking then, and now they are molting in addition to that.)

 

[Stephanie8806]

Just what I was thinking, when I read that they've stopped laying and the tail feathers are gone too.

(And now I wonder why we didn't all think of this before--the thread was started in early December, so the right time of year for molting. Or maybe it was feather picking then, and now they are molting in addition to that.)

I didn’t think of it because she only really showed pictures of the back and the saddles... this post today was the first pictures I saw of the necks and I thought, “oh, that’s a molt!”

I’m sure it’s a combination of picking and a molt. I think her new coop with actual roosting bars will be very helpful against the picking. I’d love to see a picture of her new setup if she’s got it!

 

[Stephanie8806]

Just what I was thinking, when I read that they've stopped laying and the tail feathers are gone too.

(And now I wonder why we didn't all think of this before--the thread was started in early December, so the right time of year for molting. Or maybe it was feather picking then, and now they are molting in addition to that.)

Also, her update today said she was going to have to “buy eggs for the first time in over a year”... if this is only their second winter, it may be her first molt seeing as most chickens don’t molt their first winter.

Mine sure didn’t. I only had two that molted because of the stress of a hawk attack... but the other 7 didn’t molt after the event. They are all only 9 months old. If the OP hasn’t seen one or wasn’t expecting a molt, it would certainly seem like the picking problems were worsening

 

[gluckgluck9000]

Is it normal during molting for the chickens to have completely bare patches? I picked Tits up and she just freaked out and as I picked her up several feathers fell out. I checked for mites, didn't see any. She is freaking out right now and flying into our glass screen which she never does

 

[RubelliteRose]

Yes, they can be bare. Here is the link to the annual molting picture thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ken-molt-pictures-2020.1407979/#post-23112196
As I understand it (my chickens haven't been through a full molt yet), a hard molt can be painful and I read that you should try to avoid handling them while their feathers re-grow.

 

[gluckgluck9000]

Yes, they can be bare. Here is the link to the annual molting picture thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ken-molt-pictures-2020.1407979/#post-23112196
As I understand it (my chickens haven't been through a full molt yet), a hard molt can be painful and I read that you should try to avoid handling them while their feathers re-grow.

Thank you for your reassurance I was quite worried. Hoping it's just a molt.

Does diarrhea occur during molting too?
Does weight loss as well?

Thank you for sharing that link I will go check it out and do more research about molting chickens.

I just took their saddles off as their back hair is growing in again, and I thoroughly inspected for mites, none there.

Another few things that I thought of:
Mice got into their old food, could they have carried anything?
The chickens also eat the bird food that falls into our grass from the feeder.

Anyone can respond to this just trying to brainstorm! Thanks again for all the suggestions and help

 

[RubelliteRose]

Sorry if you mentioned it earlier and I missed it, but how old are your chickens?

 

[micstrachan]

Is it normal during molting for the chickens to have completely bare patches? I picked Tits up and she just freaked out and as I picked her up several feathers fell out. I checked for mites, didn't see any. She is freaking out right now and flying into our glass screen which she never does

YES. I currently have a hen in her first molt who got naked almost all over. I had to bring her in for heat and to feed her since she stopped eating. I hope to get her back to her flock this weekend.

I’d pamper her a bit. Making a warm mash from her feed plus extra protein treats can help.

 

[gluckgluck9000]

Sorry if you mentioned it earlier and I missed it, but how old are your chickens?

I got them September 13th of 2019! So a year and 4 months old. (16 months)

 

[Stephanie8806]

I got them September 13th of 2019! So a year and 4 months old. (16 months)

As long as you’re not seeing mites, and they seem to be acting reasonably normally, I’d say wait it out. I think it’s mainly a molt, and I think they peck at the saddles because they don’t like them. I’d bet they start getting back to normal in about two or three weeks, by the looks of that feather regrowth on the neck picture you posted.