[northfifeduckling]

My girls all look very scruffy just now ,mainly on their backs showing the soft white feathers rather than their loveley red, almost as if they'd started to moult. I assume that it has to do with too much attention from the young man in their lives or could it be a symptom of something? 

[whitby_sam]

Mine are the same, it was a rampant spring and I don't think the boys have slowed down much even now. With the confusing weather they could quite easily be going into an early moult. Mine have been off lay a little too!

[Eagledance]

My 3 are the same - yet no male to cause any problems!
Have been giving them some chicken spice as a tonic and taken to giving them just layers pellets first thing then scraps later as was worried they weren't getting a balanced ration as they ate the scraps first!

Thought they were moulting but it has been going on for a couple of months and they are still laying!!

ED

[doganjo]

Exactly the same here - Jamie has long since gone to his new home, and only soem of mine have that downy look on their backs, adn just in the last couple of weeks so I don't know what is going on.

[northfifeduckling]

weird! has that happened in the previous years with yours? First year for me with hens...

[doganjo]

Can't remember it happening before.  I did wonder if i could blame the erratic weather .........

[Helencus]

My chicks are definitely moultingvtons of feathers everywhere. I think the ex bats may be starting too. Bit early though isnt it?

[cairnhill]

Same here, have now put saddles on them but bit like shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted 

[northfifeduckling]

as 2 of them are broody I could have a closer look, the feathers on the back are definitely broken off about an inch from the root - any suggestions other than boy trouble?