What’s wrong with my chicken??

[Jamity46]

Is my chicken molting? Tonight i went to lock them up and looks horrible! We live in Chicago area and it’s pretty cold, she’s missing a lot of feathers on her neck, worried she will get cold. None of the other chickens have this issue. Any ideas what it is??

 

[sassysarah]

Looks like she's molting. It looks like her feathers are starting to grow back though. She should be fine....

 

[sourland]

She is molting. Note the pointy, quill like feathers - they are the pin/blood feathers that are regrowing where the old feathers have fallen out. Keep her dry and draft free and well fed, and she will be fine.

 

[Jamity46]

Ok thanks- wanted to make sure she wasn’t getting picked on.

 

[azygous]

If she was getting picked on, it's doubtful you would see any of those pin feathers. Usually the pin feathers get plucked after the feathers are gone. The presence or lack of pin feathers on a bare patch is one way of telling if it's molt or feather picking.

Also, a hen that is molting with those pin feathers poking out is going to probably object noisily if you try to handle her.