Unsecure chicken perches

[cavysqueak]

We have a lovely Miss Pepperpot, Holly which we bought from Omlet at the end of Jan 2009. In the summer of 2009, over the patch of really hot weather she and her companion lost feathers on their chest, which we presumed was just because they pulled them out because they were hot as there was not further signs of plucking, pulling or mite infestation during or afterwards.

 

Neither of them moulted during autumn 2009, but the moulted about 6 weeks ago. We've been keeping an eye on Holly to see if she would moult - particularly as she is looking very shabby & she still has feathers missing from her tummy. We are concerned that she isn't getting any younger & is now facing a winter with a bare chest.

 

My question is this - can a moult be very slight so we didn't notice it? Maybe she has changed some feathers, but is still pulling out the tummy ones? Or is it OK that she hasn't moulted yet, despite this being her second autumn?

 

Any advice, thanks XxX

[Christian]

I wouldn't worry about her too much. All hens moult differently. My Maran seems to moult all year, with different colours of feathers at any one time She has the odd bald patch, but has never had a proper moult. I got her in 2007.

[Charlottechicken]

My pepperpot moults in December, just when the weather takes a turn and it is really cold

 

Actually, it is her birthday in December, must be a new birthday suit she's growing

[abwsco]

My Bluebelle who we got in 2009 seems to have moulted all this year. We only notice because of the darker coloured feathers that suddenly appear.