Silkies and buff orphington losing feathers in odd spots, not sure if it’s normal

[Skipena]

This is my first flock and I’m new here so I opologize if this doesn’t belong in this forum.

my silkies have been losing feathers on their heads and they are in the same coop with a polish chicken who hadn’t shown any signs of feather loss. One of them started eating her own eggs and we are getting that figured out (I’m just stating that in case it’s part of the problem) but I was wondering if it’s molting? Do silkies molt? I don’t know..

mans my third chicken who is in a separate coop with 7 others, she is a Buff Orpington and her butt is completely bare! I don’t know when it happened but it’s been that way for about a week. I haven’t noticed anyone pecking at her and I can’t find a clump of feathers anywhere so I don’t know what happened.

I don’t think I saw any mites? But I’m not sure. I’ll post some pictures so you can see for yourself.. thanks in advance!

 

[cherrynberry]

This is my first flock and I’m new here so I opologize if this doesn’t belong in this forum.

my silkies have been losing feathers on their heads and they are in the same coop with a polish chicken who hadn’t shown any signs of feather loss. One of them started eating her own eggs and we are getting that figured out (I’m just stating that in case it’s part of the problem) but I was wondering if it’s molting? Do silkies molt? I don’t know..

mans my third chicken who is in a separate coop with 7 others, she is a Buff Orpington and her butt is completely bare! I don’t know when it happened but it’s been that way for about a week. I haven’t noticed anyone pecking at her and I can’t find a clump of feathers anywhere so I don’t know what happened.

I don’t think I saw any mites? But I’m not sure. I’ll post some pictures so you can see for yourself.. thanks in advance!

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looks like feather plucking, I dealt with this as well, it is caused by protein deficiency. How much protein do you feed?

 

[cherrynberry]

silkies do molt, but it does not look like one- by the way

 

[Skipena]

looks like feather plucking, I dealt with this as well, it is caused by protein deficiency. How much protein do you feed?

I guess I’ve just never caught her or the others plucking her.
I give them a couple handfuls of oyster shells every couple of days and grubblies daily. Along with their normal feed which is nature’s Best organic egg layer crumbles.
There are 8 chickens in her coop and she’s the only one with this problem. (Also they have a coop that could hold 15 chickens so I don’t think they are annoyed with eachother)

 

[Skipena]

silkies do molt, but it does not look like one- by the way

What do you mean? They don’t look like silkies? Lol. I miss their head fluff.

 

[cherrynberry]

What do you mean? They don’t look like silkies? Lol. I miss their head fluff.

No, sorry for the confusion, what I meant is that it does not look like she is molting, but rather a protein deficiency, what percentage of protein do you feed, its not a calcium issue

 

[cherrynberry]

it may be why they are eating eggs, both eggs and feathers contain protein and chickens know it, thus, they may eat their own feathers if they think they need more protein

 

[Cecisflock]

No, sorry for the confusion, what I meant is that it does not look like she is molting, but rather a protein deficiency, what percentage of protein do you feed, its not a calcium issue

its 16%

 

[Cecisflock]

Switch them to a chick starter and this could fix your issue.

 

[cherrynberry]

its 16%

chickens need about %20 percent during this time of year...I made a mistake of feeding 16% myself