Easter Egger, Maria Von Trapp, is loosing feathers... Not even a year old

[ChristieDB]

One of my Easter Eggers is loosing feathers, especially around neck, and looks like a hot mess. Her comb is lost its red... We've been having a cold snap here in GA (in the 20s at night) but they are copped and we are running a heta lamp to boost the temp in the coop. She's eating and behaving like her normal neurotic self... But this is concerning me. She is 9months old and has been laying since July.

 

[Sue Gremlin]

Looks like she's moulting, totally normal.

 

[LlamaGirl4]

She’s molting! Everything’s ok!

 

[townchicks]

Just molting. You can even see new feathers coming in. Heat has nothing to do with the molting cycle, it's about length of day. BTW, you really don't need a heat lamp for 20 degree temps, the hens can handle that just fine.

 

[ChristieDB]

I thought hens wouldn't molt until after they are a year old?

Shew.... I was worried because she's a hot mess! Can you tell I'm a first time mama hen?

 

[townchicks]

Usually they don't go through a full molt, but it varies with the individual. Better to ask and be told it's normal, than not ask and lose a bird. Chickens are crazy tough, and at the same time so very delicate. It's normal to worry, I think most of us do.

 

[Cragg Klefor]

She's also gorgeous!