Question on Missing Feathers around Neck

[chemew]

Please take a look at the below picture. I noticed today several feathers around the hen's neck are missing. I looked closer and didn't see any lice/mites nor did I see any blood. The plastic tubes are still attached and have bits of feather poking out the top. Is this just the way new feathers are grown or does it look like they are being pecked out by other chickens? The hen is a buckeye and relatively young - she's just now starting to fill out.

 

[chicmom]

Hello! Do you have a rooster? They often grab a hen there to hold them still for mating, and sometimes they pull out their feathers....

 

[elmo]

They look like plastic tubes, but they're not. They're feather quills. New feathers growing in are encased in these white, papery like sheaths. It's part of the natural molting process that chickens go through this time of year.

 

[duckinnut]

Thats the tail end of molting. I got at least 6 in different stages and throws of molt,with a RIR looking vastly similar to yours. Got a BR that doesn't even look like a chicken,she kind of looks like those 2 legged walking things in Star Wars; Empire Strikes Back.

 

[chemew]

Thanks to everyone for the replies. She's looking worse down as it seems this is molting. From what I've read, I had thought hens would molt later in their life but not the their first winter. Anyway, thanks again.

 

[annep]

She looks just like my rir. This is their first winter too...

 

[Leah S]

Quote:
HAHAHAHAHA!! I have an EE that looked just pitiful until recently! poor things