Chicken loosing feathers!! Please help!!

[EasterChickens]

Hello everyone, I have a 1 year and 5 month old Easter Egger hen and she just started loosing a bunch of feathers starting from 2 days ago. I don't know what to do and i'm very scared something is wrong. When I also touch/pull out her feathers gently, it falls out very easily. Could this be molting or any other problems? Please let me know if you have any thoughts/suggestions ASAP.

Here are some pictures of her fallen feathers and her-self.

Thanks,
Valerie

 

[black_cat]

This is completely normal! It’s called molting. In the fall, most hens lose their feathers and stop laying. They grow new, non-damaged feathers that help keep them warm in the winter.

 

[springvalley123]

also, last year, she would've been busy molting from her juvenile plumage into her adult plumage very shortly before the usual adult molting "season" so this is why you didn't notice this happen last year.

 

[EasterChickens]

This is completely normal! It’s called molting. In the fall, most hens lose their feathers and stop laying. They grow new, non-damaged feathers that help keep them warm in the winter.

Hello black_cat, thank you so much for letting me know, I will keep an eye on her to see her new feathers regrow!

 

[black_cat]

this is one of mine about a week ago- she’s already looking better.
My run looks like a chicken exploded

 

[EasterChickens]

also, last year, she would've been busy molting from her juvenile plumage into her adult plumage very shortly before the usual adult molting "season" so this is why you didn't notice this happen last year.

Hello springvalley123, thank you so much! You are right I didn't see her molting last year at all!

 

[panda1]

Very helpfu, thank you. I feel better now. Do they require extra protein at this time, too ?

 

[springvalley123]

yes, higher protein is good. I've been feeding 24% grower food, others use a feather fixer formula that has about 20% protein, some people give some meal worms, etc.

 

[panda1]

Super, thank you