As those of you in the UK will know, we have had torrential rain today (2
inches in the rain gauge when I looked). The chickens have all sheltered
under the trees, but got pretty wet. They have then all stood around and
fluffed up and groomed themselves in the odd dry moment. However, the
Orpington, who has had a stressful time lately (lost her mate a week ago, new
chickens arrived same day) has been standing there pulling out quite a few of
her own feathers. She would have been hatched about February, and I believe
they don't moult in the first year, so is it just the rain? or stress? or
could it be something else? (They have all settled in well together and hang
around as a flock, so I don't believe it is her new companions at this
stage.)