Solitary chicken - need advice

[Cooks]

Hi all, our Sugar has lost three large long feathers in the last few days, I have not seen any sign of any bullying by the other hen, far from it, or even Sugar herself plucking herself, there's nothing, just these three feathers in the run.

 

Can you please tell me is this normal?? or something I should be concerned about?

edited to add she is eating and drinking well.

[SueChick]

I don't know too much about how many feathers should be normally lost but it doesn't sound too much of a problem. Maybe someone else can help soon.

[Mrs Frugal]

She's probably just getting her adult plumage. All 4 of my Sussex Girls lost feathers here, there and everywhere in the first few weeks after they arrived at 14 weeks of age so as long as she's not got any bugs, don't worry too much unless you notice any of your other hens pulling her feathers out.

[Cooks]

ok thanks, sorry I am just worrying like a new mum I guess, but they mean the world to us already.

It's just three feathers (so far) and I have looked her over and you cant tell where they have come from. As I say no sign of any pecking by our other hen, but I will keep my eyes peeled.

[Mrs Frugal]

Don't apologise, Loopyloo. It's a steep learning curve having chickens and we have all had sleepless nights worrying over the hens at some point .

[Cooks]

thank you Kate

[Ain't Nobody Here]

We had quite a collection of feathers in the first few weeks - don't think they were big ones but I'm sure it's nothing to worry about as long as you don't keep on finding them!

[Cooks]

lets hope so, she's a greedy piglet though, they love sweetcorn!! I thought they were going to dive bomb my son!.. I have chosen nutcase chickens I can tell

[Cooks]

another feather there today,

 

I saw her kind of pruning herself last night, but it didn't leave any feathers, I am hoping the red mite and louse powder comes in the post today (it should so) so I can give them a dusting just to be sure it's not that.

[Snowy]

It is quite normal for them to have several partial moults before they come into lay - as Kate said, they are just getting their adult plumage. I had two babies and clipped their wings at 16 weeks as they were escaping from their run. They'd grown back by the time they got to 22 weeks! If there is no sign of mites then it is nothing to worry about

[Cooks]

thanks, it's me worrying again...

[jomaxsmith]

My Rhode Star's tail completely disappeared shortly after I got her at 16 weeks and I thought maybe she had been pecked but there was no other evidence. It grew back around the time she came into lay.

 

Jo

[Cooks]

thanks Jo,

[ajm200]

One of my gingernuts grew a big patch of new feathers on her neck just after I got her. She was about 16 weeks Lots of white quills suddenly appeared. Another of the gingernuts who is a lot smaller and seems younger lost several long feathers this week.

 

I've watched them and there's definately no bullying going on. They are just going through partial moults as someone mentioned earlier. Your girls are probably going through the same.

[Cooks]

yes I think your right, I have not seen one bit of bullying either, they dote on each other infact Sugar sleeps on top of Cocoa if she gets the chance.. I know theres this thing about body warmth.. but really!!

 

I will treat them with the red mite powder when it comes just to be sure and add it to their dust bath etc., cant see any evidence though, but it's nice to be preventative anyway.