what's wrong with his feather's?

[hchorselover]

What's wrong with his feathers? The pictures don't make them look as bad as they really are but his whole neck looks like this. Does it look like somebody has been pecking them off

his normal feathers

 

[Imp]

It looks like they are new feathers and still have the waxy sheath covering them. It should come off naturally and look perfectly normal soon.

Imp

 

[Ariel301]

Yes, those are new feathers growing in. He may be molting, to have that many all in one place.

 

[geebs]

New growth.... Feather casings still in place... Congrats on the molt.

 

[allison finch]

Yep, molting. Several of my girls are downright motheaten looking. Some have big bare patches with pen feathers growing in. I am closing up their coop tomorrow as it is getting into the 40's at night and am worried about their comfort.

 

[hchorselover]

? How old do they molt because he's only about 4 months old. I thought they had to be a lot older...

 

[hchorselover]

anyone?

 

[sourland]

Molting is influenced by time of year and shortening day length- not the only factor, but the major one. He is molting and at his age I would increase his protein intake by adding a high protein food source since he is also still growing.

 

[teach1rusl]

Typically it's the fall after the first year. But chickens will also molt after being broody, when they've gone through some type of change in their environment, etc. To me, new feather growth looks like porcupine quills...ouch! You'll find dandruff looking stuff in his feathers and under his roosting spot most likely too, as that plasticish coating begins flaking off so the new feathers can open up...