Naked chicken necks

[Alyssamary3]

So we are somewhat new to chickens, is this normal? Our ladies are 8 months old and are all starting to look like this. Is this molting? The feathers around their necks are disappearing. We haven’t seen any of them pecking each other, they all get along very nicely. What could this be from?

 

[sourland]

One or more birds in the flock are feather pecking/plucking. If any bird or birds are in perfect feather, they are the culprits.

 

[JustAChickenLoverOverHere]

So we are somewhat new to chickens, is this normal? Our ladies are 8 months old and are all starting to look like this. Is this molting? The feathers around their necks are disappearing. We haven’t seen any of them pecking each other, they all get along very nicely. What could this be from?

Uhmmm are you sure that's a hen?It has a rather large comb imo.

 

[chickentrains]

a few of mine look like this, assumed it was molting

 

[Alyssamary3]

Uhmmm are you sure that's a hen?It has a rather large comb imo.

Yes, Nugget is a girl. This is what her brother, Foxy, looks like. But yes, I agree, her comb is enormous. And she doesn’t crow

 

[Myrshine]

A larger comb could mean that shes 2nd in charge after the rooster in the pecking order, most likely his favorite hen as well, which can cause the feather loss you’re seeing. Other causes could be others picking on her, lice, mites, molting or diet related.

 

[HawaiiCoyote]

A larger comb could mean that shes 2nd in charge after the rooster in the pecking order, most likely his favorite hen as well, which can cause the feather loss you’re seeing. Other causes could be others picking on her, lice, mites, molting or diet related.

In my *Noob* experience, the first signs of poultry lice in my flock is feather loss on the neck. Check the area at the base of the tail, it is a common lice hotspot as well. They will be small and beige in color, if it's a bad infestation you will see lots but if it's minor there will be a couple every few feathers.

 

[Poultry mum]

I suggest to put some blu-kote on where her feathers are missing... if you have a plucker in the flock it should deter it... somewhat.... you can make your own by mixing iodine (betadine) and blue food colouring... don’t stress if it goes on green it’s just the colours mixing (like mixing yellow paint with blue paint)

 

[JustAChickenLoverOverHere]

A larger comb could mean that shes 2nd in charge after the rooster in the pecking order, most likely his favorite hen as well, which can cause the feather loss you’re seeing. Other causes could be others picking on her, lice, mites, molting or diet related.

That correlates with my past experiences. My hen with the biggest comb is the favorite and definitely second in command to the rooster.