Spring Molting???

[Laurajean]

My bantams will be one year old this coming early May. Several of them are Silkies. I've posted a couple posts worried about my Silkies. Here's what's happening: It started with one Silkie that I thought was broody. She was staying in the nest box and I noticed her chest was bare, so I assumed she had picked them out in her broodiness. Then one day I noticed her head was completely bald on top. I thought that the others were picking on her, and that she was hiding in the next box. I watched them all frequently, but saw no signs of anyone picking on her. Then I noticed she stopped laying. Around this time I noticed very few eggs, often none at all from all of the chickens. Then, within days I noticed three more bald Silkies, all on their heads. I posted asking about them getting picked on, or possibly mites. I've checked on the first Silkie, who is still hiding in her nest box for the most part. She comes out for short times, but mostly stays in the hen house alone. I now noticed that the back of her neck has a bare patch. She is irritable and squawks if I pick her up, a strange alarmed sound that seems as though she's distressed. I put DE in the bedding and food. Then tonight someone mentioned molting. This hadn't even occurred to me, it being my first year with chickens. So I did a little reading on molting. The description of molting fits somewhat, they do seem somewhat irritable, with missing feathers and not laying. But only on their heads? Does this happen with molting? Also, things I've read mentions them molting in the fall, preparing for colder weather. This started happening a couple of weeks ago, as we're approaching Spring. Does this still sound like molting?? Any info on molting would be appreciated, if that's what this sounds like. If not, any other ideas of what's happening would be appreciated.

Added: I've also noticed when they do lay eggs, they appear to be breaking into them and eating them! I think the one Silkie who is hiding is doing it. Maybe because she doesn't want to come out for food? Or getting extra protein if it's molting that's happening? Just thought I'd mention that, because they have never eaten their own eggs before.

 

[Laurajean]

Anyone?

 

[easttxchick]

I'll chime in, Laurajean-even though it's about ducks.

I could make a feather pillow with a matching boa right now with the duck feathers flying around here.
The ducks are mopey, quiet, cranky and don't seem to be in much of a mood lately and aren't laying.
Of course, our climates are totally different, but since noone else responded, thought I'd give you my experience from WAY down South with ducks.

 

[Yay Chicks!]

So, are you seeing a lot of feathers lying around? Or just missing feathers?
I had a couple molt last fall and there were feathers everywhere. Now this spring I have a BR that looks like a Turken, but my BO was pecking and eating her feathers. It took awhile before I actually saw her do it. Then my grandson saw the BR actually picking out her own feathers.
Absolutely no bugs on mine. Have you checked all yours for bugs?

 

[Laurajean]

Yes, I am seeing loose feathers floating around, more than usual, but I have a large run, and 5 out of 8 of them are Silkies, so I'm not sure it's as obvious as it might be with regular feathered chickens? But there definitely are loose feathers.

But what seems odd is that the Silkies only appear bald on their heads. Does this happen with molting? The pictures I've seen appear to be random patches on their whole bodies. My Silkies look otherwise normal except the tops of their heads. Only 2 of the 5 Silkies still have "head-hair". The one non-bantam I have, a RIR looks fine, and the other two bantams, a Mille Fleur D' Uccle and a Cochin both appear normal. But three of the Silkies just have bald heads! One of them, the one that appears to be hiding a lot, does also have a small patch missing from the back of her neck.

Also, in the last week I've noticed when they do lay eggs, they are breaking into them and eating them! They have never done this before. Could it be from the lack of protein due to molting perhaps??

It just seems weird to me that it's only on their heads.

Also that this is happening in the Spring; I thought it would happen in the fall.

I did check for bugs. Nothing I could find with the naked eye.

 

[speckledhen]

Laurajean, I'm not sure if it's mites with yours, but chickens often go through a 9-10 month mini-molt. It's not "the big one" and it rarely is very noticeable, but it does happen. Do you have a rooster? They keep some of my girls pretty bald. I have one hen who is completely bald when she molts. She looks like a vulture!

They also are very uncomfortable when they molt and picking them up distresses them some. I'd dust or get the lice/mite spray to be sure it isn't that, but mostly, bald chickens mean a rooster is pulling out their head feathers during mating.

 

[Laurajean]

Quote:
Yes, I do have a rooster. Just one, he's one of the two Silkies who isn't bald. Other than him, there's only one Silkie left with "head hair". Can you tell me what I should be looking for as far as mites? I've picked them up and inspected them, but don't see anything out of the ordinary other than their bald heads and moodiness. And yes, they look like they have little vulture heads!

I just need to know if there's something I should be doing here.

I also wish I knew if this is molting or happening from mating or what.

I think I read a post of yours once where you mention dusting them with DE. How should I do this? Just pick them up and brush it into them with my hands? Should I be doing this now, if they are molting and in discomfort?

 

[Laurajean]

Would a Silkie Roo tend to stick to mating with other Silkies? This may explain why my three non-Silkies look fine. Will they always stay bald? If it is from mating I mean? They look awful!

 

[kathymccown]

Chickens just molt yearly right, not usually from mating? But I thought that they did that when the light cut back like in Fall. Ours are just at one year old, began molting about a month ago and are really bare on their butts and chests, and are now eating their eggs! We are nearly at 16 hours of daylight now, and all Winter we supplemented their light and they were fine. I don't know what is going on. They eat 20% protein food, and free oyster in a little feeder thing. They also get scraps from the house. I have no idea of what to do. I made some brown eggs out of Fimo clay and took them down there tonight and put one in each nest. We already had some round rocks in the nesting boxes, which didn't do anything. It seems to be getting worse and worse, both the feather loss and the egg eating. They will even make a hole in the shell and eat out the egg part! Anyone got any ideas? I am getting desperate here.....