feather loss

[danceingqueen11]

My hen is losing an excessive amount of feathers, shes also laying down a lot, she doesn't seem herself at all! please help!!

 

[kprusac]

I'm pretty new at this, but how old is your hen? Is there any chance she might be molting?

 

[danceingqueen11]

she just turned a year this month!

 

[jillscoop]

it might be molting, Did she stop laying eggs? The natural molt cycle is in the fall unless it is manipulated. When the days get short in the fall chickens just naturally molt. However, there are ways that commercial breeders force a hen to molt by restricting light and feed. Maybe you've done this without meaning to, is she getting enough feed and is it high enough protein? Or maybe your'e keeping her in a darker coop for longer periods of the day. Usually they are grouchy during molt not lethargic so I would be concerned that it is chicken mites.

 

[danceingqueen11]

Now that you mention it i don't think she is laying eggs, yeah i give them plenty of food, they have a bucket out for them all day, i dont think shes restricted from light because i have them free range all day until the night! i was think maybe mites too, im going to check today! if its mites, how do you get rid of them?