Hard molt or something else?

[Frazzled chicken tender]

There are new feathers coming in and the skin doesn't look red or irritated. Looks

Oh dear! She certainly is molting hard. Yes it looks like a normal hard molt to me.

Some extra protein during molt often helps speed the regrowth. Many use canned fish (I myself use mackerel). I haven't give cat food but many do as it is very high in protein.

Offering a 20% protein feed like all flock or chick starter is another option.

I couldnt quite figure out how to edit my original post but i just got back into town and she looks worse. She also is walking sideways, does that happen when they have a hard molt? I fed her scrambled eggs and she is sleeping on the roost. We are supposed to have cold weather come in tonight and she hardly has any feathers to keep her warm. Thanks for any input.

 

[GirlsHuntToo]

Molting

 

[Frazzled chicken tender]

Molting

Thank you. I wondered if she might be walking sideways because she is uncomfortable

 

[AntiqueB]

She might be. The pin feathers can be painful when touched.

I have one girl who usually loves to be held, but squawks unhappily if I pick her up during molt.

 

[GirlsHuntToo]

Thank you. I wondered if she might be walking sideways because she is uncomfortable

That is what all my hens do - don’t worry about her. I heard sunflower seeds and crackled corn treats might help give her some extra vitamin to help her feathers grow in faster.

 

[WingsysRoost]

Thank you. I wondered if she might be walking sideways because she is uncomfortable

She definitely could be. I've had birds look and act very ill when going through a molt like this, including not wanting to move much because they felt so uncomfortable. I haven't personally had a bird walk sideways during a molt. I could definitely see that happening, though. The new feathers really don't feel nice for them when they are coming in.

 

[Frazzled chicken tender]

That is what all my hens do - don’t worry about her. I heard sunflower seeds and crackled corn treats might help give her some extra vitamin to help her feathers grow in faster.

Thank you! Im going to get some more treats tomorrow..she is so timid right now.

 

[Frazzled chicken tender]

She definitely could be. I've had birds look and act very ill when going through a molt like this, including not wanting to move much because they felt so uncomfortable. I haven't personally had a bird walk sideways during a molt. I could definitely see that happening, though. The new feathers really don't feel nice for them when they are coming in.

Thank you! I wanted to pick her up and bring her inside, because some of the hens have started picking on her, but i thought it might be uncomfortable. I did separate her while she ate some scrambled eggs.

 

[Frazzled chicken tender]

She might be. The pin feathers can be painful when touched.

I have one girl who usually loves to be held, but squawks unhappily if I pick her up during molt.

Thank you, she is friendly but scared to be picked up normally and I figured she is probably uncomfortable, so i fed her and made sure she was safely in the coop for the night, then left them alone.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I couldnt quite figure out how to edit my original post but i just got back into town and she looks worse. She also is walking sideways, does that happen when they have a hard molt? I fed her scrambled eggs and she is sleeping on the roost. We are supposed to have cold weather come in tonight and she hardly has any feathers to keep her warm. Thanks for any input.

That is an incredible amount of pin feathers!!
Full porcupine mode engaged!

While it looks awful it won't last long. Before you know it she will be all fluffy again.

Yes it's uncomfortable for them and they can act very off in addition to walking oddly.

She is doing great with her regrowth process. I would just keep doing what you're doing and trust that it will all work out.