Hard molt, acting strange, laid an egg.

[KatefromOz]

Hi. My little isa brown is about 5 days into a hard molt. Bought her some 21% protein broiler feed as it's winter here and getting really cold. I am 90% sure she laid an egg yesterday...didn't see it bit it looks identical to her usual eggs (only 3 of my girls are laying so it's easy to identify eggs). Anyway the main issue is she is acting quite strange...walking really low to the ground, saw her on one leg yesterday, sort of looks like she is struggling to stand and move normally, but she will run down to me for treats and is eating heaps. Maybe just a side effect of the molt? Her legs don't seem injured, maybe she is just cold? Any ideas?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Can you share picture? Sometimes a hard molt can make them extremely uncomfortable, and they can seem sick. If she's eating and drinking usually that means they are okay. Truly sick birds will generally stop eating.

 

[KatefromOz]

I think you're right and she is probably uncomfortable more than anything. Pics attached
It's hard to get a good photo, under those fluffy white feathers is just like bare skin/pin feathers, doesn't look as bad in the photos.

Can you share picture? Sometimes a hard molt can make them extremely uncomfortable, and they can seem sick. If she's eating and drinking usually that means they are okay. Truly sick birds will generally stop eating.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

She's definitely going through a hard molt. Sometimes they will start sleeping in nestboxes, and even walking backwards to try to escape the pain. I cannot imagine what it feels like to have feathers growing out of the skin.

She looks bright eyed and healthy to me otherwise.

 

[KatefromOz]

Thanks for the reply. I feel so sorry for her. We actually moved her into the laying box the first night after she lost a heap of feathers because she like to sleep in the run but its been far too cold...she makes her way up to the box now (sadly can't put her on the coop roosts because she just attacks all my other girls). I'll keep her protein up to try and get those feathers back asap. Thanks again.

She's definitely going through a hard molt. Sometimes they will start sleeping in nestboxes, and even walking backwards to try to escape the pain. I cannot imagine what it feels like to have feathers growing out of the skin.

She looks bright eyed and healthy to me otherwise.

 

[aart]

They can act a bit off for a few days when molting.
Let her roost where she wants.
Mine usually roost at far end rather than right in the scrum.
She doesn't look too bad....yet.

 

[KatefromOz]

Thank you. Good to know it's "normal". Wow that's a big molt. I was worried about the weather, mainly the strong winds we have had...hopefully she is warm enough. Still walking funny today but eating lots so that's a good sign.

They can act a bit off for a few days when molting.
Let her roost where she wants.
Mine usually roost at far end rather than right in the scrum.
She doesn't look too bad....yet.
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