Where did her beard go???

[TheChickInn]

I have an Ameraucana hen that my children use for showing at the fair. I noticed several times in this brutal Wisconsin winter that we had, that she had ice hanging from her beard. I'm guessing that the ice was heavy enough to pull some of her beard feathers out. So far- the feathers do not look like they will be growing back in. Do you think her beard will grow back in before the fair in July, or do you think we will have to wait until her next molt to see her beard grow back in? Is there anything else I could do besides feeding more protein that would help in regrowth?

 

[lazy gardener]

Are you sure that it's because of ice? I have 2 EE who have lost their beards, and I'm blaming it on their hatch mate who is beardless. I've noticed that she picks up any feather that falls, and eats it. I believe she is exuberant with her grooming of her hatch mates at night. Hoping that warmer weather and free ranging will stop the issue. Otherwise, she may be the first to go when I start my new flock, in spite of her pretty blue eggs.

 

[keesmom]

Flock mates may have picked out her beard. Most likely you will have to wait until she molts. How old is she?

 

[TheChickInn]

Thanks for the responses. I actually keep her in a cage by herself, because I paid a lot of money for her and I didn't want her to get any damaged feathers from the roo. I have her water in a cage cup, and we have had a LOT of well below zero temp. this winter. I could see the little icicles hanging off of her beard after she would drink. In hindsight, I wish I would have put another heat lamp in the coop. She is 1 1/2 years old- she just had her first molt at the end of this past Oct.