silkie feather loss

[ash11]

I have 2 silkies that are losing feathers only on their stomach. One only has a few feathers missing, the other one has no feathers at all on her belly. I have DE all over the coop and run. I searched them for mites and lice...couldn't see anything. My other 3 chickens are fine. The silkies are eating and drinking normally and running around so I thought maybe they are moulting? I read what I could online and it said they lose feathers on their head and back and are usually a year old. Mine are 6-7 months. So then I thought they are going broody. My silkies lay 1 egg everyday. My silkie with the bare stomach has been laying an egg every other day. Plus if she is in the nesting box and I put my hand in there she makes a weird noise and tries to peck me. But I don't think she could be broody because she doesn' stay in the nesting box she is up and around like the rest of them. It's weird though, because I can pet all my hens if they are laying in the nesting box, but that one is the only one that makes a crazy noise at me! Could she be broody, moulting or sick? Any advice would be really appreciated.. Thanks!!!

 

[Judy]

Maybe they are "half broody." Silkies are such a broody breed, but you're right that they are not doing the whole broody thing. Broodies pluck the feathers from their bellies. That way the eggs have direct contact with a warm, slightly moist surface for incubation. I wonder if they have done this themselves.

 

[ash11]

I don't know if they did it to themselves or not....I just wish I knew for sure what the heck is going on?! Like I said, one is totally bare and lays every other day now, and the other one has some missing and is laying normally. I guess I just have to keep waiting and watching!

 

[CrystalWebb]

Help I have a silkie that has had a neck twitch and here in the last 2 wks have started making a inferential noise then the rest of the silkie and to night when to put them to bed and found here to be missing a bunch of her feathers on her head missing. Her head feathers have had a wet look to them the last few days I figured she keep getting them wet in the water dish. But now some are gone please help I am new at this and am worried about her.thanks

 

[ash11]

That sounds similar to what my silkie is doing....except the neck twitch. That alone would worry me. The only thing I can think of is maybe she is moulting? I wish I could help you, but I still haven't figured out what's going on with my girl. Sorry I couldn't help, best of luck to you.