Chicken lost feathers

[4Crazychickens4me]

ok so I went to let the girls out of the coop and I noticed a pile of feathers underneath where Mia was roosting. Any ideas? She is one that we can never catch but it kinda looks as if the are off her backside. There’s no bald patch anywhere that I can see.

 

[sourland]

Sounds as if she is in a full blown molt. Some molt gradually, and others blow most of their feathers all at one time.

 

[4Crazychickens4me]

Sounds as if she is in a full blown molt. Some molt gradually, and others blow most of their feathers all at one time.

Do I need to do anything for her? We have only had them for a year now and only had one other one molt and she was already doing it when we got her and half her feathers were gone I just freaked out thinking she was sick or something else. Still learning all this chicken stuff. Thanks for the fast reply!

 

[rosemarythyme]

You can put them on a higher protein feed if you want, to help them with feather growth, but otherwise just try not to handle them too much, as they don't like being touched as the feathers start growing back.

 

[4Crazychickens4me]

You can put them on a higher protein feed if you want, to help them with feather growth, but otherwise just try not to handle them too much, as they don't like being touched as the feathers start growing back.

How long does it normally take? There was another pile under her this morning. Will she loose all her feathers or no? Thanks

 

[sourland]

Some molt a bit at a time, and others blow all of their feathers at once and are nearly naked - it depends on the bird.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Since you've had them for a year and they weren't chicks, they'll all molt now or soon. It is something all chickens do every year after their first autumn. Some will even molt their first autumn if they hatched early in the year.
You'll have a dearth of eggs for a while. Some people add a couple young birds each year to get through that time.
I add birds year round but still start hoarding eggs in August so I don't have to buy store eggs.
They feel like crap when they are growing a new winter coat. Feathers are 93% protein, They can't grow them and kick out a 6 gram lump of protein every day.
As was said, boosting protein can help. You have a few choices. You can switch all birds to a higher protein grower or All-Flock feed and provide oyster shell in a separate container for any birds still laying.
There are layer feeds like 'feather fixer' with higher protein and slightly lower calcium.
You can also offer some fish, meat or other animal protein a couple times a week. I use canned mackerel because it is a cheap source of essential amino acids.

 

[aart]

'Tis the Season!!