Newbie here...Is my BSL molting?

[8WarEagleChicks]

I am still learning so bear with me... My BSL pullet who is 8 months old seems to be losing feathers and she is not laying eggs anymore. I notice the feathers in the coop mostly. She has lost all the feathers on her face and most on her neck. I have looked closely at her skin and don't see any bugs (although I am not sure what a mite would look like

.) I keep DE all over the yard and in the coop/nest boxes. She acts normal, except for the not laying eggs part. She eats and drinks fine. One of the other hens has taken on the role of "rooster" and occasionally jumps on the three other hens for a few seconds and bites their necks. I don't think she would account for all the facial feathers missing. You can see all the pin feathers coming in where the other have fallen out.

Thanks in advance for any wisdom.

 

[Imp]

That looks like molting. Since she is only 8 months she won't go likely go through a full molt. Just a mini molt till next fall. And even then some chickens never do the full molting thing.

Here's some info about parasites:

http://ohioline.osu.edu/vme-fact/0018.html

Imp

 

[3chimama]

looks like she is molting to me....

 

[KKatknap]

Looks like molting to me. I have several going through it right now.

Probably not a bad idea to give her a little extra protein right now...I use calf manna, but there's also Black Oil Sunflower Seeds (you'll see that shortened to BOSS in lots of posts), mealworms, and plain yogurt. The extra protein helps with new feather production.

 

[Kittymomma]

Quote:
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[can you hear me now?]

She looks to he multi.g to me. Nothing to worry about there.

 

[8WarEagleChicks]

Thank you all for the feedback! I thought that might be what she is doing ...but needed to know for sure. Hope she doesn't loose too many before the real cold comes!

 

[Luke0987654321]

looks like she is molting, but as she is young, i doubt it is a full molt,



luke.