[Fat Hen]

I came home other day to lots of white feathers in the garden.  Polly a Sultan is the only white chicken so I thought she was being picked on by others (just got new ex bats)But i've not witnessed any picking on her, she's a bit flighty and runs away if they come near her, but there doesn't seem any reason for it.

When I picked her up to look at her there are feathers around base of tail that have been nipped off.  And i've watched her and she is pulling quite a lot of feathers out.

Is this normal moulting chicken behaviour :?:

[muntjac]

when moulting the feathers itch and she may well be helping herself /check her for mites etc  

[Fat Hen]

I've been out after dark with torch to see if I could spot anything (mites), couldn't, though it's awkward alternating between reading glasses and without looking for the * moving about.

I'm wondering if it's stress related.  She's got a ruddy great pom pom on her head that almost covers her eyes therefore everything appears to her suddenly (she doesn't see it coming".

I've tried trimming it but it's blooming difficult holding a flighty hen still enough with one hand and trying to trim her "hair" with the other and not sticking the scissors in her eye.

[muntjac]

look for the mites in the daylight ? and you can calm a chuck down by holding ur hand over its eyes