Need some advice

[Sonoma Gal]

I have 6 hens that are 10 months old who live in confinement coop 6x6, run 18 x 6. About one month ago I started noticing several of the hens losing feathers. Thought it was a pecking order issue, isolated two at different times so they were solo in a coop/run visible to the other hens for 10 tens days each. Turns out these two that were isolated one at a time were also losing an abundance of feathers.

I have thoroughly checked each hen for lice and mites around vents, legs, head, feet. I do not see any of the mentioned.Of course I am using the internet as a guide to check for those critters and am nine months new at raising a small flock. Can someone from the photos I'll post suggest to me what you might think is going on? The feather loss started about one month ago, now each hen has been affected. I use First Saturday Lime, DE liberally in the dust bath, coop, nesting box and run. Most have lost the feathers around there eyes and face. Might they be allergic to something? Is this a nutritional issue? They have crumble & water and I hang cabbage, cauliflower periodically for diversional activity/boredom buster. All have good appetites, one has a slightly more pale comb, wattle is normal on that one.

I'd appreciate any ideas/help so I can help them regain there feathers and luster, they were fully feathered & beautiful before this episode now they are so sad looking.

Thanks in advance!

 

[kattabelly]

If they're almost a year old they might just be moulting

 

[Sonoma Gal]

If they're almost a year old they might just be moulting

Molting at 10 months? I thought the first molt comes around 18 months? Thanks for you input!

 

[kattabelly]

Molting at 10 months? I thought the first molt comes around 18 months? Thanks for you input!

They go through several juvenile moults, mostly earlier in their first year but also often around the age they are now - anecdotally, this seems especially common (or maybe just more noticeable?) for chickens that hatched early in the spring. After that, they should only moult once a year.

 

[Sonoma Gal]

They go through several juvenile moults, mostly earlier in their first year but also often around the age they are now - anecdotally, this seems especially common (or maybe just more noticeable?) for chickens that hatched early in the spring. After that, they should only moult once a year.

Gosh, I lean something new about these hens every single day! Thanks you Kattabelly!

 

[Sally PB]

My first chickens were hatched in March 2020. In January 2021, I thought their heads had shrunk. Nope, just a juvenile molt.