Acting strange..... Worried

[freerange4hens]

So one of my chickens appears to be molting, or so I think... She is losing feathers like crazy, but I also can not tell if they are just breaking off either.. She is eating, drinking fine, forging the yard with the others normally, her comb is red, her eyes look clear... The only thing is she hasn't laid (nor have the rest of them) in at least a week. She also is very thin and seems to walking lower to the ground and sideways and is looking slightly more lethargic then normal too. Any ideas or suggestions?

 

[Eggcessive]

The first big molt takes place at around 18 months and yearly thereafter. Some chickens look terrible during a molt, and others hardly look different. Check the base of her feathers especially under the vent for lice eggs. They are white patches. These may be feather mites which will destroy the feathers. She also may need worming or have mites, which affect egg laying. Valbazen or Safegard goat wormer are two excellent wormers, and Sevin dust is good for lice or mites.

 

[freerange4hens]

Here are the some pictures of my Delaware that concerns me...

 

[freerange4hens]

Thank you! I did just post a few pictures of her too..

 

[Eggcessive]

How old is she? That looks like molt.

 

[biaj069]

Well they look better than one of mine who has a bare butt at this moment. Unfortunately they all molt a bit different and some take longer. Good luck

 

[freerange4hens]

They are about 16 months old. She's just walking really funny and looks unstable on her legs. Leaning to one side, hoping to catch her balance, walking low and sideways, def just doesn't look normal.

 

[freerange4hens]

It's almost like she's trying to walk straight, her head is pointing where she wants to go, but her legs and body pull her to the side, so she makes a big circle before she gets where she wants to go..

 

[freerange4hens]

Her butt is pretty bare.... and she seems to run normal too. I just can't figure it out. I guess I will dust them and deworm them to just be safe and sterilize the coop just to be sure. Not really sure what else to do for her.