Feather loss

[MysteryChicken]

Interesting, will do, thank you. I’m doing more research she maybe molting too…. I have just never had a hen loose this much in a molt, but she did just get done being broody, and we have had a week of cold weather after intense heat this summer in Minnesota. We’re also seeing shorter hours and I’ve noticed all my hens have delayed laying a bit. So I’m hoping this is the cause and pray she’ll get more feathers by winter because they’re forecasting a cold one.

You're welcome.

 

[MallardMama19]

Looks like she's molting - it is that time of year... How old are they?

Thank you, I’m now thinking that too… they are all alittle over a year and a half. I have just never had a hen loose this much in a molt, but she did just get done being broody, and we have had a week of cold weather after intense heat this summer in Minnesota. We’re also seeing shorter hours and I’ve noticed all my hens have delayed laying a bit. So I’m hoping this is the cause and pray she’ll get more feathers by winter because they’re forecasting a cold one.

 

[MallardMama19]

Here’s a pic of one of mine that’s going through a hard molt. Im finding all sorts of feathers from the others but she looks worse for wear. So molting is my guess too

Thank you! My other girls have some feather loss too, just here and there, now that I’m inspecting them one by one (I’m an overbearing chicken mama… just love them dang things) but poor Willow is by far the worse.

 

[kerbotx]

There's hard molts, soft molts, mini-molts, broody molts, all kinds! A protein boost would help them get through it; any feed that is 18-20% protein, like chick starter, all-flock, meatbird, etc, with calcium still on the side for those who need it. I always feed boiled eggs to my girls when they're molting, as I usually have way more than I need anyway.