Last weekend we tried to intoduce a new hen with our older girls. The new hen, who is white by the way, was in a rabbit cage inside the chicken pen. That night we put the whole cage inside the chicken house. The next afternoon when we tried to let her out the others went after her. After a bit of scuffling I caught her and put her out in the general yard with the ducks. Now, I noticed that day that there were quite a few white feathers where the cage was, then I saw a bunch inside the house, but she looked ok, so I stopped worrying. Then a few days later I realized our white leghorn was missing almost all her tail feathers, feathers on her chest, and some wing feathers. Her skin looks normal (well, maybe a little pink) and the bare spots have feather shafts about half an inch long. So, is she molting or did she lose these feathers trying to get into the caged hen? She is almost 20 months old, and never molted. Can a chicken lose that much feathers overnight molting? Sorry this is so long but I really need some idea what's going on. Thanks Mina
Mina, Stress and scuffling can cause loss of feathers. At her age, it may be normal moulting, and perhaps triggered by the stress of a new hen. I rarely even try to introduce a new bird or birds, as I just can't bear to see the fighting and rejection! When I do, it is usually an older one, to a new, different pen, with the new bird. It just takes some watching so no one is killed in the process. Good luck, CJR
By Cjeanr on Friday, January 19, 2001 - 09:29 pm: