Smallholders Insurance from Greenlands

Author Topic: weird feather loss  (Read 1502 times)

northfifeduckling

  • Joined Jan 2009
  • Fife
    • North Fife Blog
weird feather loss
« on: August 20, 2020, 08:34:32 pm »
One of my girls is losing her neck feathers just below the ears, she might be scratching. Maybe it’s psychological as group dynamics changed a few weeks ago but I don’t want to miss if it’s an indicator for some parasite or illness. Any thoughts?

chrismahon

  • Joined Dec 2011
  • Gascony, France
Re: weird feather loss
« Reply #1 on: August 21, 2020, 06:35:29 am »
Could she be moulting? Are there any wing feathers in the run as they seem to start and finish with those, presumably to retain flight capability?

Possum

  • Joined Feb 2012
  • Somerset
Re: weird feather loss
« Reply #2 on: August 21, 2020, 10:08:03 am »
My pure bred hens often lose their neck feathers first when moulting. They look rather tatty for weeks. It seems less of a problem in the hybrids.

northfifeduckling

  • Joined Jan 2009
  • Fife
    • North Fife Blog
Re: weird feather loss
« Reply #3 on: August 29, 2020, 09:26:44 am »
 No feathers in her bed, but it‘s a possibility. Just wanted to exclude any more serious issues, thanks.

bj_cardiff

  • Joined Feb 2017
  • Carmarthenshire
Re: weird feather loss
« Reply #4 on: August 29, 2020, 11:08:12 am »
Could it be that the drake is holding her by them and pulling them out while treading?

 

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