New hen losing feathers

[Quail4Fun]

I just picked up 4 new jumbo coturnix hens 2 days ago. They are 7 weeks old and were raised together. They are still in the quarantine pen for now. I have noticed a couple have some rough looking feathers. And one has been losing the feathers on the back of her neck. Looks like over breeding but there isn't a male with them. I've sat and watched and haven't seen any one picking on each other. These birds are inside so I can see and hear them all the time. I haven't witnessed any fights or excessive preening. Could the feather loss just be stress from the move? Or aftermath of an incident prior to arrival? Though they seem calm and all laid eggs yesterday.

 

[muddy75]

sometimes too much heat at three week mark can cause feather loss that won’t come back, other times it is overbreeding and/or stress. you may want to add electrolytes to their water (i use life lytes others use sav a chick) once a week during transition to see if that helps

 

[Quail4Fun]

sometimes too much heat at three week mark can cause feather loss that won’t come back, other times it is overbreeding and/or stress. you may want to add electrolytes to their water (i use life lytes others use sav a chick) once a week during transition to see if that helps

Thank you so much! I'll give it a try.

 

[Nabiki]

At 7 weeks, it's also possible that they're beginning a moult. Mine seem to moult at about that age.

 

[Quail4Fun]

Update: Found this female with some dried blood on her beak and a very small crack. I removed her to her own cage so the others don't pick at the blood. She is eating and drinking and laying eggs. Still haven't witnessed a single fight. I think she may have gotten it caught in the hardware cloth on the cage.

The second one I was watching has a scab on the back of her head and some pretty good swelling to the back of her head. Also eating and drinking and laying eggs but the occasional panting.

I am wondering if these injuries are more self mutilation/ self injury from stress. I have a low profile rabbit hutch but covered the top with egg cartons anyway as I think they may be bonking the top and they have some places to hide (flower pots). But honestly, these birds are indoors in a fairly high traffic path from my bedroom to my bathroom and I have 2 cats and a dog roaming about. I think they are just scared and not adjusting well. My other birds could care less about the big pets but they were raised here from day 1 and know no different.