Bantam Easter egger molting?

[jgessentials]

hello,
Our little Easter egger looks like she is molting but it has now been a few months and feathers around her neck are not coming back in. Feathers lower look strange as well. She has also been sleeping on top of the coop for a few weeks. When I put her in she stays in with the others but if left to her own devices, she sleeps on top of the coop inside the locked run.

Thank you for any advice you can share.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

That feather loss is from being over mated by the rooster. The feathers should be replaced when she actually molts.

 

[jgessentials]

Thank you, we don't have a rooster, however, the chicken next to her in the first picture acts like one with her. She only acts that way with the easter egger. Is there a way to stop her from doing that?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Thank you, we don't have a rooster, however, the chicken next to her in the first picture acts like one with her. She only acts that way with the easter egger. Is there a way to stop her from doing that?

The only way that I know to stop a hen from acting like a rooster is to actually add a rooster. Sometimes when there isn't a male a female will fill the role. Your EE will look better after the molt. Here it's just starting in a few birds. Generally it runs through December and all molt at their own pace. Some are done in 6 weeks, and others take 3 months.

 

[jgessentials]

Thank you very much! Adding a rooster is not an option for us. What would be other solutions?
Is the fact that she chooses to sleep on the roof of the coop in the run a concern?

Really appreciate your help and suggestions.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

More than likely she's bottom bird by what you are describing. She probably sleeps away because she's not allowed near the more dominant birds. Do you have multiple roost options? Bottom birds often get pecked more and dominated more so their heads can end up bald sometimes. Giving her places to get away or hide can help sometimes. The only way to stop it if she's really your bottom bird, is to add more so someone else is bottom bird. Dynamics change in a flock so it could stop next year, or be the same. It's mostly cosmetic. As long as there's no real injury I wouldn't do anything personally.