Could this hen be starting a molt?

[Newtochicks21]

Our olive egger started acting a little differently about 2 nights ago when I found her in a nesting box at bedtime. I moved her out of the box and she didn’t go back. Yesterday she was less active than normal but got up to eat and move around. We gave her an epsom salt bath just in case something was bothering her. Today, her behavior is similar - lots of just relaxing. No egg yesterday or today.

She has an area on her chest that we thought she was picking but maybe not, where she is missing feathers. I do see pin feathers coming in. This area has been this way

for a little bit now. It is not too new.

She is about 17 months old.

I will try to get a picture of the missing feathers and add it to the post.

Thanks.

I can get a picture too close because she is under the coop and won’t come out. I did get a picture of her posture which also seems odd to me.

 

[aart]

I do see pin feathers coming in.

Sounds like molting to me.
Tis the season.

 

[ValarieF]

Mine are starting to molt too

 

[Newtochicks21]

Sounds like molting to me.
Tis the season.

Does she look ill to you? I am most worried about her being less active and the way she is standing. I don’t know how to describe it - kind of scrunched up.

 

[aart]

Does she look ill to you? I am most worried about her being less active and the way she is standing. I don’t know how to describe it - kind of scrunched up.

Hard to say.
They can be rather lethargic during a molt, usually only for a day or two.

This is what I do when I have a birds that is acting off....
I isolate bird in a wire cage within the coop for a day or two....so I can closely monitor:
-their intake of food and water,
-crop function(checking at night and in morning before providing more feed),
-and their poops.
Feel their abdomen, from below vent to between legs, for squishy or hard swelling.
Check for external parasites or any other abnormalities.


Best to put crate right in coop or run so bird is still 'with' the flock.
I like to use a fold-able wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller mesh(1x2) on bottom of crate under tray.
Then you can put tray underneath crate to better observe droppings without it being stepped in. If smaller mesh is carefully installed, tray can still be used inside crate.

 

[Newtochicks21]

Hard to say.
They can be rather lethargic during a molt, usually only for a day or two.

This is what I do when I have a birds that is acting off....
I isolate bird in a wire cage within the coop for a day or two....so I can closely monitor:
-their intake of food and water,
-crop function(checking at night and in morning before providing more feed),
-and their poops.
Feel their abdomen, from below vent to between legs, for squishy or hard swelling.
Check for external parasites or any other abnormalities.


Best to put crate right in coop or run so bird is still 'with' the flock.
I like to use a fold-able wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller mesh(1x2) on bottom of crate under tray.
Then you can put tray underneath crate to better observe droppings without it being stepped in. If smaller mesh is carefully installed, tray can still be used inside crate.

Thanks. I am working on trying to narrow down the problem. I appreciate your input. It is helpful.