Sex-Links losing Feathers

[knoxchickies]

I have two sex-links that are losing their feathers, mainly on their bottoms and neck. In some places, the feathers appear to be broken off about 1/2 inch from their hides. I have only had chickens about six months and haven't experienced this before. Could it just be molting?

 

[dracoe19]

It sounds like molting. Red sex links tend to be very hard molters so they usually look very scraggley and naked for a while compared to many other breeds. This has been bred into them because the hard molting makes the time between not laying eggs during molting to starting again drastically shorter. This is why they are a production breed because of their high egg laying rates. They should start looking pretty again soon .

 

[stargirl]

Quite likely moulting, but rule out lice & mites just in case (the itching can cause them to scratch out their feathers - the broken feathers suggests this is a possibility).

Check their feathers for traces of lice or eggs at the root. If you haven't recently, apply whatever lice/mite treatment you use to the hens & their housing.