[Vickie & Richard]

One of me girls, who hasn't started laying yet, has short feathers around her comb.  I think she is alittle way off laying, her comb is sometimes red but also pale (can combs change colour quickly with the mood they are in, because hers seems to).  I have seen no evidences off mites.  Could she be having alittle moult?  When i had a cuddle the other day i had a close look at her and underneath there was some feather with blood stems to them.  I haven't had a massive amount off feathers, just a few here and there.  Could this be why she is late laying? because she is having a little moult.  I don't see any pecking going on between my girls.  The other rhode island red x light sussex i have has given me a couple of eggs, but nothing regular.  They are about 26 weeks now.

[Foxy]

hi there!

It sounds like a "partial moult" not uncommon in youngsters and just around the neck. What you can see are new blood filled quills. If they are broken or blooming would indicate pecking as the new quills can look very attractive to other birds! But dont worry too much moulting is perfectly natural just make sure they have a balanced diet with plenty of oyster shell for calcium and look forward to your fresh eggies!

[chickenlady]

Hello! Young hens moult into their adult feathers which is usually over by 20 wks, i still have one of my 23 weekers who has a few tufts on her head. as for the combs i have noticed that they can flush them red when there is food around etc its when thy stay red that the laying is gonna be starting. Bokky and Tilly have had very red combs for about a week now and have been squatting for about 2 hopefully i will get eggies soon. hope this help

[Vickie & Richard]

Thanks for all your help, looking at Dora free ranging at the moment, she does look rather scruffy compared to the rest.  Hopefully she will calm down soon.