Doris Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doris Posted July 3, 2014 Author Share Posted July 3, 2014 Sorry! I posted the picture first as I wasn't sure if I would be able to do it! I have 3 bantams (cuckoo marans) who will be a year old this month. I've noticed feathers in the run over the last few days and wondered if we had a moult starting. Today it looks like a chicken massacre! I can only see baldness on the one lady but it is on her back, everything I have read said it starts on the head and neck. The skin looks intact, no injury/redness and I have seen her preen/pull at some feathers herself. It doesn't look like the other two are bullying her. Could this be a moult even though it isn't following the typical pattern? She is otherwise fit and well. I have noticed less eggs recently so it may be her that is off lay? Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 Does it look as if someone's emptied a feather pillow into the run? That's a moult! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doris Posted July 3, 2014 Author Share Posted July 3, 2014 Yep, the run, the lawn, the patio....... I was prepared for a moult this year although not quite so early. My concern was that the internet says it should start at the head/neck and work its way back. Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 They don't follow the rules if she's laying less then yes it is a moult. Very pretty girls btw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 what you have to remember chicken don't read books or the internet they all moult in different ways some will do a bit at a time and take for ever. others will shed great areas of feather be as miserable as sin the whole time and be fully feathered in 2-3 weeks and be back laying a couple of days later there's an old adage that says the better the layer the quicker the moult which in the case of my mob does hold true. my old cockerel Boris starts his moult about mid June and grows a few feathers at a time and 'll take till October to finish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doris Posted July 3, 2014 Author Share Posted July 3, 2014 Thank you so much. My first year of chickens has been a learning curve but I am a bit obsessed now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 I feel cheated....my girls have never had a moult, either partial or full, they are two and a half year old ex commercial ladies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 Doris they're beautiful - I'd love some of them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doris Posted July 13, 2014 Author Share Posted July 13, 2014 Thank you everyone. I just thought I would come back and say that she did moult after all my concern. She currently has lots of pin feathers which are starting to fluff up and we are trying not to handle her. Thank you all for your help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted July 14, 2014 Share Posted July 14, 2014 Keep an eye on her, the pin feathers are full of protein and taste very nice to the others, if they start pecking them, then you could have a bit of a problem... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 Watch out for pecking... but generally; if it's still very warm, then they will lose feathers to help them cool down. If there's a cooler snap, then they will start to moult, but it's a tad early for that just yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
