Could my broody hen have forced herself into an early molt??

[LindsaySinai]

It seems way too early in the year for molting...especially since I live in San Diego and we have nothing but sunlight right now. I have a cochin that turns one this month and she just stopped being broody about a week ago and now she's losing a ridiculous amount of feathers. During the few weeks that she was broody, she spent all but a half hour each day in the dark coop. None of the other chickens are losing feathers and my other cochin was from the same hatch. I noticed what I think was lice on the other cochin so they all got dusted about four days ago. I checked the chicken who I think might be molting several times for mites and other bugs but never saw any so I'm assuming if the feather loss was due to mites or lice that the chicken with the visible bugs would also be losing feathers??? But...my theory doesn't completely work because I read that chickens ALWAYS lose feathers in the same order of body when molting and the only place I've noticed any loss is her vent, which I know is usually a sign of mites..but she is also super "fluffy" so maybe I just can't see that shes lost as many feathers in the other areas???

ANY THOUGHTS ON THIS?? Please and thank you!!

 

[teach1rusl]

I've had several hens get "thrown" into a molt after coming off of being broody. I think that the stress of being broody - not taking care of themselves nutrionally, etc. causes it...

That's my hypothesis at least...

 

[LindsaySinai]

I've had several hens get "thrown" into a molt after coming off of being broody. I think that the stress of being broody - not taking care of themselves nutrionally, etc. causes it...

That's my hypothesis at least...

But what about the areas of feather loss?? Is it true its always the head and neck first?? I'm not noticing anything there but like I said, she's really "fluffy" so maybe I dont notice. Feathers literally fall out as I touch her and shes free ranging right now leaving a trail behind her.

 

[centrarchid]

But what about the areas of feather loss?? Is it true its always the head and neck first?? I'm not noticing anything there but like I said, she's really "fluffy" so maybe I dont notice. Feathers literally fall out as I touch her and shes free ranging right now leaving a trail behind her.

I have been watching the molting process on several birds that are being tracked closely. My hen birds that were adult before Christmas of last year all started to replace wing feathers back June. Now at least half of the wing feathers have been replaced and they are begining to replace tail flight feathers. Most are now begining to replace body feathers although broody hens seem to have greatly slowed the replacement of body feathers although not completely. Within about 90 days all remaining feathers should be replaced in the non-broody birds. The broody hens will accellerate their feather replacement once broodiness ceases. Usually the hens that are broody now catch up and complete feather replacement at same time. My roosters are a little more complex but process is not affected by broodiness. With my birds only hens that are in poor condition have exposed skin at any point during the molting process.

 

[LindsaySinai]

Shes totally bald in her vent area

 

[teach1rusl]

Hmmm...that does sound odd to lose only feathers in the vent area. Chest/belly I can see because they often pluck those themselves...neck & throughout the back is usually where I most notice ex broody's feather loss. I'd be suspicious over bald vent areas... I'd definitely treat her with Adams, Frontline, or a dust if that's what you prefer...

 

[terryg]

Molting is tied to age, season and stress. The hens that are your worst layers will begin to molt first, and that can happen as early as August, depending on the age of the birds. I have a very healthy flock of 12 and 2 are beginning to molt. But, they don't begin to molt by their vents, so I suspect something else is going on. I have photos of various types of feather loss on a FAQ - perhaps you'll see something there that clues you in. http://hencam.com/faq/bare-butts-feather-loss-and-feather-picking/