Re: Losing feathers - is she lonely?

On Sep 13, 6:44 pm, "Jill" <n...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Bitstreams wrote:
My Blue Orpington Hen is about point-of-lay and I'm worried about her
because she's losing (or pulling) her feathers. There are no obvious
bald patches, just lots of feathers on the lawn.

She has had a stressful few weeks. Her sister (I hatched them both)
died suddenly and spectacularly of some sort of seizure and two weeks
later we moved house, changing Blossom's coop at the same time.

So she is alone, although she sits close to the bars of the rabbit
hutch and seems to have developed a friendship there. Do Chickens pull
feathers like parrots do or could it be something else (like losing
baby feathers for adult ones?)

There's room in the coop for another hen if that's the answer

Simon

Chickens are flock creatures so should not be alone
As birds mature up to point of lay they have a number of small moults until
they get their final feathers for that year.
Stress moulting is not uncommon. Weather and predators can also do it.
Fether plucking can also be a sign of a nutritional deficiency
What is she fed?

--

regards
Jill Bowis

Pure bred utility chickens and ducks
Housing; Equipment, Books, Videos, Gifts
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Working Holidays in Scotlandhttp://www.kintaline.co.uk- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

hi i have just rehomed a white campbell duck and her partner from
rspca . the female is also loosein loads off feathers i thought it
might be stress she has not layed any eggs either are these related to
the move, and how long will it take her too settle?

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Losing feathers - is she lonely?
    ... because she's losing her feathers. ... just lots of feathers on the lawn. ... died suddenly and spectacularly of some sort of seizure and two weeks ... Chickens are flock creatures so should not be alone ...
    (sci.agriculture.poultry)
  • Re: Losing feathers - is she lonely?
    ... because she's losing her feathers. ... just lots of feathers on the lawn. ... That feather loss is normal for ducks at ... What are you feeding? ...
    (sci.agriculture.poultry)
  • Re: Losing feathers - is she lonely?
    ... because she's losing her feathers. ... just lots of feathers on the lawn. ... Pure bred utility chickens and ducks ...
    (sci.agriculture.poultry)
  • Re: Losing feathers - is she lonely?
    ... because she's losing her feathers. ... just lots of feathers on the lawn. ... So she is alone, although she sits close to the bars of the rabbit ... Chickens are flock creatures so should not be alone ...
    (sci.agriculture.poultry)
  • Losing feathers - is she lonely?
    ... because she's losing her feathers. ... bald patches, just lots of feathers on the lawn. ... changing Blossom's coop at the same time. ...
    (sci.agriculture.poultry)
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