Un fluffy chicken

[Weaverfinch]

Why is my chicken losing her feathers in winter? I have 5 chickens, she's the older one. She was picking on them at first, but stopped after a while. Still doesn't like them, though.

 

[sourland]

Can you post a picture of her?

 

[CoopBoots]

What age are your girls? Anyone over a year old should go through a molt in the fall/end of breeding season and replace old feathers with new ones. Pullets (under a year old) usually skip molting and just get to egg-laying as long as they are still getting decent sunlight.

 

[Perris]

She was picking on them at first, but stopped after a while.

she may have been removing the waxy cuticle they emerge with; they end up as little white flakes on the ground wherever a bird has been preening them out. Moulting is an uncomfortable experience for birds, and they don't always get the timing right, adding coldness to their misery. If it is just this, she'll be fine once the new feathers are through.

 

[Weaverfinch]

she may have been removing the waxy cuticle they emerge with; they end up as little white flakes on the ground wherever a bird has been preening them out. Moulting is an uncomfortable experience for birds, and they don't always get the timing right, adding coldness to their misery. If it is just this, she'll be fine once the new feathers are through.

Thankyou