Preening?

[dewdropsinwv]

I am new to this site and raising chickens. This may sound stupid to some of you but I need to know, there are a lot of feathers on the floor of the coop and in the run. Are he chicks preening or could it be something else? The chicks are about 10 weeks old.

 

[centrarchid]

They are into what will be one of the three feather sets they go through during the first year of life. If they are between four and about 8 weeks they are molting chick feathers and replacing them with juvenile feathers,

 

[dewdropsinwv]

So I can expect to find more feathers in the coming months?

 

[centrarchid]

So I can expect to find more feathers in the coming months?

Yes.

How old are your birds and can you show pictures of them?

 

[dewdropsinwv]

Thanks for answering me. I can show pics of my birds under my hubby's name.... lol I cant remember what I used for my password to use the regular computer. I have 12 chicks... 3 austrolorps, 6 amber links, and 3 red sexlinks. I had 3 austrolorp roos, but heard they are really noisy. My hubby doesn't want any roos right now since we don't have room or raising baby chicks yet.
My chicks are about 10 weeks old.

 

[DadandJB]

Here they are:

 

[dewdropsinwv]

Thank you for posting the pics for me!!!! I couldn't get them to load so my hubby did it for me

 

[centrarchid]

Your birds are on the tail end of replacing the first (chick) feather set. Shortly after that is complete they will then begin replacing the second (juvenile) feather set which is still coming in. If you look at your bird's wings while held outstretched, you will note a pattern in their replacement.

 

[DadandJB]

Thanks!!! I was worried they were fighting or something. They seem to be happy and healthy over all.

 

[Hayduke27]

Good to know, I have just started finding some feathers around my pen as well, I had wondered what might be going on. Thanks for the info!