[mo-jo]

Hi, I've had my 4 chickens for about 2 weeks now and they are 18 weeks old.  My question is should I be concerned that in the 2 weeks my speckledy pair have lost there long tail feathers.  This seems to be happening at night.  I don't think it is from the bluebelles pecking them as the 2 speckledys seem to be the dominant pair.

Does anyone know why they are losing them, should I be concerned and it there anything I can do?

Thanks

[hillfooter]

I wouldn't worry too much it could be a natural moult.  They go through several mini moults before they mature but keep your eye open for feather pecking. 

Do you have a single perching bar and can the chx get under the perch?  Both bad if so.  Chx being below perches are encouraged to peck the tails of roosting birds and this can lead to vent picking a very dangerous habit which can lead to cannabalism and death.  So check these points.  Perches should be rows of perching bars with a 50 - 70mm gap between and a dropping area below which the birds can't access.  If this is how it is arranged then it shoudn't encourage pecking from below as well as being more sanitary.
HF

[mo-jo]

Thanks for this Hillfooter.  I have 2 perching bars and they can't get under them so hopefully it is what you said about a mini moult.  I didn't realise they did that at such a young age.  I will keep an eye on them though.

Thanks again.