What does molting look like when it begins?

[Noble Rooster]

One of my girls looks like she has lost a few feathers on her neck -- the downy feathers closest to the skin; you have to part the longer top feathers to see the missing ones -- plus a weird lesion that looks like the tip of a feather may have broken and gotten infected. No one else has similar issues though I keep checking them to make sure it's not contagious or a mite/parasite issue (they were just sprayed about 10 days ago as part of my mite prevention schedule). What does molting look like until it gets fully under way? She's only a year old and I think it's a bit soon to molt, but never having seen a molt I figured I'd ask. Thanks in advance! Oh yes, she is the top bird in the pecking order so I don't think anyone else was picking on her, though that's possible.

 

[Camelot Farms]

Molt at our house looks like a dozen feather pillows were shredded in the wind!!!

 

[gallusdomesticus]

A molt will frequently start at the neck an move progressively aft on the chicken. How much the bird molts (they do keep some feathers) depends on a number of factors such as breed, lighting conditons, diet, etc. Most chickens will start their molt around the 14 month point but that's not a hard and fast date. You should notice the quills of new feathers starting to appear almost coincidently with the loss of the old feathers. Make sure the hen has plenty of protein to grow new feathers and be prepared for no eggs until she comes out of the molt.

 

[little_grey_bantam]

Mine are nearly naked

Waiting for them to pretty up again for pictures LOL
Too embarassed to tell people they're MY birds

 

[RocketDad]

"What does molting look like when it begins?"

It looks like something VERY wrong! But it's okay. They'll get better.

Even the top bird will get picked at by other hens, they're helping to pull the loose feathers out. Do they eat them? Maybe - depending on whether they are also feeling the molt coming. If you have an actual lesion, check it out. Take the hen inside or something, and see if you can identify if there is an actual injury. Hydrogen peroxide is a good general purpose cleaner for skin things, and fairly safe. If it's an open sore, it might sting, so be careful not to get your arm clawed off by a panicking henosaurus rex. Soothing words and wrapping in a towel has worked for me, even for surly cats.

Post pix if you can. We're all here to learn from one another.

 

[Noble Rooster]

Quote:
Thanks, RocketDad. Yes, I've noticed that generally they will eat feathers if one happens to come loose, but this happens even without molting. There is an actual lesion on her throat -- not bleeding, just crusty. I cleaned it with povidone iodine the other day but it doesn't seem to have gotten better (nor has it gotten worse). She really doesn't like to be handled unless it's on her terms so I think I will have to try the towel thing with her when my husband gets back tonight. She's a strong girl and getting b!tch-slapped in the face with one of her wings hurts like the dickens!

I'll try to get a pic of what's going on with her throat and will post it.