Do chickens pluck their own feathers?

Answer 1

well guess not maybe.

All birds molt their feathers, usually in the fall or late summer. They do this because the feathers get old and start to fray. The molt is done gradually and may take a couple of months so the bird is never missing too many feathers at the same time.

Answer 2

Your chickens are probably moulting - moulting can be as minor as just a few wing feathers and some chest feathers, through to nearly all their feathers! Make sure they stay warm whilst they are going through their moult and keep the feed up to them. They will grow back and will be glossier and more beautiful than ever!

Answer 3

Three reasons.

One: and the most probable is that what you see is a bare area in the saddle area. The saddle on a hen is where the rooster stands while mating. This can lose feathering if the rooster is very active on this particular hen. The saddle is the area just above the tail.

Another reason they lose feathers is molting. Chickens go through a period of feather renewal each year and old feathers drop off while new ones grow and replace them. Head, neck and back are often the prime areas for feather loss.

Third: Chickens that are sick or malnourished will drop feathers.

Answer 4

Yes they do. There are a number of reasons they will do this. Most often the chickens have an irritating parasite. Mites, fleas and various other bugs can infest the feathers of a chicken. This can result in feather picking and over preening, leaving bald spots. Most feed stores have dusting powder to treat this problem and a balm to treat the condition.

Answer 5

It is natural and happens at least every year or 18 months depending on the breed.

The hens will molt and that is the process whereby they renew their feathers.

Bare patches on a hen are often a result of the roosters mating attentions. Many hens have a bare "saddle" area and a loss of feathers around the neck area.

Answer 6

Some, but not all roosters lose their tail feathers. When a rooster does lose his tail feathers, it is down to the molting process.

Answer 7

Chickens may loose their feathers due to stress, or from another bird. Chickens often pull out feathers from other chickens when setting up a pecking order.

Answer 8

Yes, they have feathers!

Answer 9

Molt.