Concerned about Mabel.
So Mabel has passed the one year mark now and has been going through a very heavy molt for the past few weeks (actually, my entire flock is - soo many feathers everywhere). She has pin feathers popping up everywhere and has been preening like crazy and letting out a little yelp every time she knocks one of them. I've been showering her daily in an attempt to help relieve some of her itchiness. Yesterday I noticed some blood on her beak and watched her pull out several new pins from under her wings, where the down has not yet grown back and her bare skin is showing. She was yelping but kept doing it. I've been keeping a close eye on her and have noticed her doing it quite often... I'm really concerned. This has only started since she has been molting, she has never plucked herself before. I'll see if I can get a photo next time she does bat bird.
So Mabel has passed the one year mark now and has been going through a very heavy molt for the past few weeks (actually, my entire flock is - soo many feathers everywhere). She has pin feathers popping up everywhere and has been preening like crazy and letting out a little yelp every time she knocks one of them. I've been showering her daily in an attempt to help relieve some of her itchiness. Yesterday I noticed some blood on her beak and watched her pull out several new pins from under her wings, where the down has not yet grown back and her bare skin is showing. She was yelping but kept doing it. I've been keeping a close eye on her and have noticed her doing it quite often... I'm really concerned. This has only started since she has been molting, she has never plucked herself before. I'll see if I can get a photo next time she does bat bird.
