Our Ethel doesn't look good

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Rchickens

Rchickens

Hatching
5 Years
Oct 25, 2014
3
0
7
One of our americanas has been loosing feathers for about 2 weeks and not acting right. We think she's not laying. There are no red areas or rashes on her skin and coop is cleaned with bleach every week. The other 5 chickens are fine and not picking at her. Her vent looks normal. What could be wrong? Should we separate her or call a chicken vet?
 
Welcome to BYC. How old is she? Could she be starting her molt (most chickens do this first at 16-18 months, and every year thereafter.) If molting, they normally stop laying until it's over within a month to six weeks, or so.
 
Eggcessive is right - it's just around now that most chickens start moulting. Some lose feathers gradually, but others can lose a lot very quickly.

What do you mean by the fact that she's "not acting right"? What changes have you noticed in her behaviour?

Does she eat and drink ok, and have you noticed any changes in her poop?

The more information you can give us the more likely that we will be able to help you figure out if there is anything wrong or if it is just part of the normal cycle of a chicken's life.
 
Thank you for your reply. She is 18 months old. She doesn't interact with the other girls like she usually does and won't go outside the pen when we let them out. None of the other chickens are doing this. Is it common to molt with cold weather coming? Do they change their temperament with molting? Thanks again!
 
Thank you for all your help. It's greatly appreciated. I guess we are still rookies. We will check out the websites.
 

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