Do hens become crabby when molting?

[tlcmurphy]

Absolutely, and mine take FOREVER to molt. PMS, Pre/Post Molt Syndrome

 

[Lizzyduff]

My normally snuggly Orpie is VERY grumpy when she's molting. I miss my snuggles right now cause she's going through molt currently. She doesn't even look at me when I call her name. She is usually my 'golden retriever' of my flock following me around and jumping in my lap if I sit down. She's gone from her sweet trilling to outright growling at the moment. Her flock mates are also giving her more space when she's walking around. lol

Do they return to their usual sweet selves after the moult is done?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Do they return to their usual sweet selves after the moult is done?

Once they regrow their feathers they won't be so prickly any longer and should more or less be back to their old selves.

 

[RoyalChick]

Totally grumpy with me and with each other while they molt. It just looks so uncomfortable I am not surprised they are irritable. Avoid handling them - it must be painful having pin feathers.

 

[AntiqueB]

Most of mine want nothing to do with me during molt, but I have one that snuggles even more. I guess the comfort she gets from snuggling outweighs the discomfort.

They will return to their happy selves once molt is over.

 

[BonnieBlue]

Another question regarding molting.

Do chickens ever lose their appetite and just pick at their food while molting? One of my girls is eating very little. I don't want to handle her while molting, but I see no signs of parasites or mites/lice, and she does not have an impacted crop because she is pooping normal poops, they are just very small. This morning I added a persimmon to some mash, and she was all over the persimmon like she was starving, but only picked at the mash, and only picks at mealworm crack.

I expected her to be whiney like a todder, which she is, and expected her grumpiness with everything and everyone, which she is. The picking at food and not much appetite surprised me.

Just for the record, it is a soft molt and it has been going on for 2 weeks now. She is losing her tail feathers, so I hope she is at the final stages of losing feathers and will start growing new.

 

[tlcmurphy]

Yes, mine eat less when they molt.

 

[The Welch Chickens]

Do chickens ever lose their appetite and just pick at their food while molting?

Mine are snubbing their scratch grains (usually their favorite treat) and warm mash.

One of my girls is eating very little. I don't want to handle her while molting, but I see no signs of parasites or mites/lice, and she does not have an impacted crop because she is pooping normal poops, they are just very small. This morning I added a persimmon to some mash, and she was all over the persimmon like she was starving, but only picked at the mash, and only picks at mealworm crack.

It sounds like an effect of her molt, but I would still keep an eye on her.

 

[awagnon]

Do they return to their usual sweet selves after the moult is done?

Yes. Little Miss Bella actually jumped up on a perch that is elbow level to me to get some snuggles this morning. Don't notice any falling feathers from her anymore. My two red terrorists are going through it right now. The newbies are staying completely clear of those two. lol

 

[Lizzyduff]

Another question regarding molting.

Do chickens ever lose their appetite and just pick at their food while molting? One of my girls is eating very little. I don't want to handle her while molting, but I see no signs of parasites or mites/lice, and she does not have an impacted crop because she is pooping normal poops, they are just very small. This morning I added a persimmon to some mash, and she was all over the persimmon like she was starving, but only picked at the mash, and only picks at mealworm crack.

I expected her to be whiney like a todder, which she is, and expected her grumpiness with everything and everyone, which she is. The picking at food and not much appetite surprised me.

Just for the record, it is a soft molt and it has been going on for 2 weeks now. She is losing her tail feathers, so I hope she is at the final stages of losing feathers and will start growing new.

One of mine lost a lot of weight when moulting. Would only eat free range. Almost stopped eating her pellets, or black soldier fly larvae, even the sunflower seeds were hardly touched for several weeks. I'm happy to report that now the moult is over she's regained all that weight and some, eating everything in sight. Seemed to only want scrambled eggs, oatmeal, grits, or tuna during the moult though.