Weird feathers around neck?

[emilyschartz21]

My gold hen has a bunch of gold feathers around her neck that stick up when she walks and I've never seen this before. She is still acting normal and laying eggs. I've had her for a little over a year.

. Is she just losing some feathers and that's why it looks this way? Or what could it be?

 

[emilyschartz21]

 

[Eggcessive]

That is very odd. It's looks almost like she has had a hen apron or saddle on, that has crimped her feathers. I would watch her tonight as she is on the roost to see if she is sitting in an odd position with her neck. You can then also chick her for mites and lice. She may be getting ready to molt or a flockmate could be grooming her.

 

[emilyschartz21]

Ok I thought it was extremely odd when I saw her that way this morning. I already checked for mites and lice this morning and didn't see anything. That's exactly what it looks like and there's no feathers on the ground that I saw either. I'll check when she's roosting tonight. Typically her and my other gold one lay together side by side. Is this what molting looks like when it starts? They are about a year and a half old now and didn't molt or anything last winter....so I don't know what it looks like?? Is there anything I need to do if another flockmate is trying to groom her?

 

[Eggcessive]

For feather-picking an anti-pick lotion such as Rooster Booster, or a bad-tasting ointment such as Bag Balm or Nustock may work. In my experience molting can start around the neck, but it would be more widespread or on the front. Here is a good article on molting: http://www.grit.com/animals/molting...lp-chickens-get-through-it.aspx#axzz36n68jNqn

 

[emilyschartz21]

Ok good to know I do have rooster booster already. Ok I'll watch her. I only saw that around the neck not around the front or anything. I'll read the article later. Will she stop laying eggs if she is molting?

 

[emilyschartz21]

Is there anything I need to do for her molting?

 

[emilyschartz21]

Could this be because I introduced the two month old chicks into the coop? They all still have their own areas until they get used to each other but could this cause the molting if she is?