Why has my Araucana rooster all but lost his beard and muffs?

[Cindy in PA]

I have 4 EE hens right now, 3 with beards & one beardless naturally. Back in the fall all three of mine with beards lost them to the other chickens. I had this happen one other times years ago. They don't seem to fight much, but the beards are an attractant! I miss the beards.

 

[Mrs. K]

Funny, I have never had a hen loose her muff, just a rooster

 

[aart]

It's not at all uncommon for birds to "preen" the muffs and beards of their roost mates.

Yep, seen this plenty....weird now they are all growing back and they look kinda strange because I haven't seen those beards in months!

 

[lazy gardener]

American Rumpless Araucanas don’t have muffs or beards they have tufts. I think you have a rumpless Easter Egger rooster.

OP was saying the roo's face was as bare as a baby's bum.

Yep, seen this plenty....weird now they are all growing back and they look kinda strange because I haven't seen those beards in months!

Yes, it does seem that this muff/beard plucking is more of a winter past time.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

OP was saying the roo's face was as bare as a baby’s bum

The title of the thread is “Why has my Araucana rooster all but lost his beard and muffs?” That’s what I was commenting on.

 

[lazy gardener]

sorry.

 

[sourland]

American Rumpless Araucanas don’t have muffs or beards they have tufts. I think you have a rumpless Easter Egger rooster.

Henrik lives in Sweden.

 

[aart]

Yes, it does seem that this muff/beard plucking is more of a winter past time.

Well, it's winter and they've grown back in.....probably with some molts finishing up.
I see the actual picking/grooming in summer.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

sorry.

Henrik lives in Sweden.

That explains it.