Molting or Pecking/Social Problem?

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Yes, it is actually hay.

After hearing opinions here and reading elsewhere I agree that she is molting. I'm having trouble finding high protein poultry feed locally so I may need to make some at home. She is also sequestering herself under a nearby wheelbarrow. So I'm checking on her often and have made sure she has lots of hay and food in there too.
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I was surprised to see bare porcupine necks on my three Partridge Plymouth Rocks this month since they are only 9 months old, but thanks to pictures I had seen on BYC I knew it was molting. Interestingly my BOs and Sussex hens have not molted so the early molt seems breed specific. I have not seen any pecking but have noticed the ones that are molting tend to stay in the covered run (10X20 ft) while the others venture out on the snow in the large attached run.
 
A lot of birds under a year will have a neck molt, it's just on their neck, a normal molt is full bodied. A neck molt happens in the fall or in the Spring, not all do it but some do. It shouldn't cause your hen to be acting so unwell though, has your weather been changing a lot. The others are picking on her because of her behavior.
 
kearly2015 said:
Yes, it is actually hay.

After hearing opinions here and reading elsewhere I agree that she is molting. I'm having trouble finding high protein poultry feed locally so I may need to make some at home. She is also sequestering herself under a nearby wheelbarrow. So I'm checking on her often and have made sure she has lots of hay and food in there too.
Click to expand...
Yep, molting. They get reclusive when they are molting, she'll perk back up when the feathers have grown in. As for protein, anything high in protein will work.........mealworms, Black Oil Sunflower Seeds, tuna, meat scraps, cooked eggs, etc.
 

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