Summer molting?

[CHISPA]

Thank you for your replies. I had a roster but it has been a month or so since he is gone. Had to put him down as he was injured since birth. He was hurting, and wasn't able to walk much. He was hurting the hens too when mounting them as he was heavy and clumsy; it was very sad but it felt like the righ thing. Hens seem happier now except for the heat and molting if that's what it is. Thanks again my chicken friends!

 

[CHISPA]

I'm on the west coast as well -- southern ca -- & we just rode out a 101 degree heat wave that lasted several days. Your thread made me wonder about my girls too -- it seems like they all started going through their first molt a couple of months ago (on schedule -- they are about 18 months old). several lost feathers and now have new, healthy ones growing in, but i have one hen that has a completely bare bottom & seems to be taking forever to grow her feathers in! They all have slacked off a bit on their laying, but I'm still getting plenty of eggs. No pest problems that I can see, although I did find a cluster of nits a few weeks ago & removed them with coconut/oregano oil -- haven't ever seen a live lice on anybody & I did a lot of inspecting. They are happy, completely spoiled girls (and boys!) that free-range on about half an acre. Wondering if there's something else going on here? Do they just all molt at different paces? Should I inspect them more thoroughly? It's my first time observing my flock molt, so I'm not exactly sure what to expect...

 

[CHISPA]

Hola Toloache. Sounds to me like you are doing everything you should. My girls molted late winter (head, neck, shoulders, and tail and some funny spots). They got all their feathers back I think. Just recently, a couple or so look like they are molting. Heat is hard on the girls. I'm still pretty new as well as I have been raising them since April last year. Hope to hear from others mire on this .

 

[CHISPA]

So if the feathers are being dropped as complete, undamaged feathers, without any blood/veins, molting is likely (but not definitely, of course) the cause? Hearing your thoughts always helps me so much.
Edited to add: As you know, here in NC, our Temps have been all over the place, but our days are long. I'm not sure what else could be causing it but I certainly don't want to dismiss it if you don't feel like I should.

Thank you for info. I don't see lice. I will check again. They are dealing with selecting a new pecking order since Felix the roster has gone.

 

[CHISPA]

Do you have a rooster?

If not, that's ok, I would say whoever is roosting beside her is nibbling her feathers. Feathers are intact, just broken/worn/nipped. She's not molting yet.

If you have others that look like that, it would be a good idea to check them over for lice/mites too, but that's feather nibbling.

Do you have any suggestions on how to stop feather nibbling?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Do you have any suggestions on how to stop feather nibbling?

Likely happening during roosting.
I would still give her a look over for lice/mites - it may be another hen is grooming her for bugs. It may also be just grooming her for no reason at all. Possible whoever is nibbling the feathers just has a bad habit or ....? Chickens can be weird.

For some reason I was not seeing your other replies. OK. You did have a rooster. Some of the damage is likely from him, even though he's now gone. Damaged feathers won't be replaced until molt.
BUT, I would still observe during roosting, I still think someone is nipping off feathers.

Thank you for your replies. I had a roster but it has been a month or so since he is gone. Had to put him down as he was injured since birth. He was hurting, and wasn't able to walk much. He was hurting the hens too when mounting them as he was heavy and clumsy;

Do you have a rooster?

If not, that's ok, I would say whoever is roosting beside her is nibbling her feathers. Feathers are intact, just broken/worn/nipped. She's not molting yet.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

So if the feathers are being dropped as complete, undamaged feathers, without any blood/veins, molting is likely (but not definitely, of course) the cause? Hearing your thoughts always helps me so much.
Edited to add: As you know, here in NC, our Temps have been all over the place, but our days are long. I'm not sure what else could be causing it but I certainly don't want to dismiss it if you don't feel like I should.

Yes, you will see "whole" feathers dropping and pin feathers starting to emerge.

 

[Teresa D]

Do you have a rooster?

If not, that's ok, I would say whoever is roosting beside her is nibbling her feathers. Feathers are intact, just broken/worn/nipped. She's not molting yet.

If you have others that look like that, it would be a good idea to check them over for lice/mites too, but that's feather nibbling.

What is a good treatment for nibbling just noticed this morning as I was observing my chickens?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

What is a good treatment for nibbling just noticed this morning as I was observing my chickens?

Could be boredom, but sometimes adding a little extra protein can help if they are eating what they nibble.

 

[Teresa D]

Could be boredom, but sometimes adding a little extra protein can help if they are eating what they nibble.

Thanks