Part 0800.0005

[Scrambled egg]

My chicken Hattie has been looking very bedraggled lately. She has patches of feathers that are gone and when cleaning out the nest box there are generally some in the droppings tray and in amongst their bedding. We've had her for a bit over a year and she's been through a moult before so it's not new, I just don't know if it should be happening at this time of year. On a closer inspection you can see new feathers growing through, but I just want to be sure this doesn't sound like mites or anything

[bevmatt]

Certainly sounds as though she is moulting unless you are talking about the depluming mite lice don't tend to cause bald spots all over the birds.

If she has new feathers coming through then that is a good sign as well. I have no idea why hens decide this is a good time of year to moult other than in preparation for the year ahead - in spring they will be ready to lay again.

[Scrambled egg]

Thanks a lot I did think it was most likely just moulting, but my Mum mentioned mites and then I just wanted to be absolutely sure.

[chuckmum6]

My little marans look pretty dreadful, bald patches and only a single feather in there tail. They have been the only hens laying for months though! Chickens aren't brightest creatures are they

[Burtie14]

Is there a chance she's being pecked at by another chicken? If the feathers are actually in the poop, that's a possible sign.

[Plum]

Sounds like moulting to me. No harm in dusting her to put your mums mind at rest

[Scrambled egg]

Is there a chance she's being pecked at by another chicken? If the feathers are actually in the poop, that's a possible sign.

 

She could be I suppose, but they get on so well it would be very out of character for Dusty to do this. They have no problems when their together during the day, are they likely to do it in the nest box?

 

Thanks for all the advice guys

Ashlyn xx