I am new to the art of raising chickens. My 3 year old Rhode Island red has plucked the majority of her feathers but acts the same as she always has. No odd behaviour . She free ranges on our southeast minnesota property and lives with my two goats that she has adopted. She has stopped laying and has begun to crow like a rooster on occasion. I am considering putting her in a spare dog crate in my home and keeping her warm indoors during the winter months but I don't want her to become stressed and lose any more feathers. Our local farm vet is also stumped. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Mary is a great member of our family and we would hate to lose her.
I suggest you read these two articles. They may help you. Mississippi State describes molting http://msucares.com/poultry/management/poultry_feathers.html Kansas State feather loss http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/library/lvstk2/mf2308.pdf I don't like to talk down anyone I don't know, but many vets did not specialize in poultry. It is very possible your vet is extremely good with certain animals but really does not know poultry all that well. The vet I take my dogs to does not do poultry.
Have you actually seen your hen plucking her feathers or could they have they fallen out? Sounds as if your hen is going through a molt, which many do this time of year.
Your chicken is just molting. The older feather will fall out and the newer ones will grow to prepare her from the cold weather thats coming. If thats is your only chicken, please do keep her inside the house like you said.
If she is your only chicken than I would say she is lonely. Chickens need other chickens to hang out with to be happy! On top of that she may just be molting. Here is a picture of one of my hens that is molting right now. She is an extreme case! Good luck with your hen
Thank you all for your help. And the picture is exactly how Mary looks, chickee, except the color. What a great forum!
