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HELP !!! Is Muffin sick or just molting?

Discussion in 'Chicken Behaviors and Egglaying' started by cookiesdaddy, Dec 27, 2007.

Most Liked Posts
  1. Dec 27, 2007 #1
    cookiesdaddy

    cookiesdaddy Songster

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    Muffin is only 9-10 months old Brown Leghorn, has been laying for 3+ months. Last few days I noticed lost of feather around the neck. The 3 other hens are fine. Is this a disease, or is she just molting? What do I need to do?

    [​IMG]
     
  2. Dec 27, 2007 #2
    speckledhen

    speckledhen Intentional Solitude Premium Member 11 Years

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    Molting! Always check for parasites, but that's a typical molt. Look at the neck on the SLWyandotte in this pic-she now has all her feathers back:
    [​IMG]
     
  3. Dec 27, 2007 #3
    okiechick57

    okiechick57 Songster

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    yuppers........I agree.......molting...isnt to pretty is it....... mine just went throught their first molt...........turned uggie real fast..
     
  4. Dec 27, 2007 #4
    SpottedCrow

    SpottedCrow Flock Goddess

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    Moulting!
    The porcupine quills looking thingees are the new feathers coming in.
     
  5. Dec 28, 2007 #5
    JackieK318

    JackieK318 Songster

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    Don't they look horrific sometimes though? My poor Australorps looked so bare and pathetic, then their feathers came back in. They looked so gorgeous! Just hold on and your Leghorn will look great in her new, shiny feathers.
     
  6. Dec 28, 2007 #6
    cookiesdaddy

    cookiesdaddy Songster

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    California Bay Area
    Thank you all for reassuring. The next question is ... why molting so early? I thought the first molting wouldn't come until 1.5 - 2 years? Does this mean egg production will start to slow down? She's only 9 months old. THANKS!
     
  7. Dec 28, 2007 #7
    newchickmom

    newchickmom Songster

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    Looks like molting to me. My Blue Crown conure looks just like that right now, and boy is she cranky! LOL
     
  8. Dec 28, 2007 #8
    speckledhen

    speckledhen Intentional Solitude Premium Member 11 Years

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    I, too, was surprised by my nine and ten month old girls molting like that. My original flock did not do that at all at that age. This year, all bets are off. Everything is wacko if you ask me.
     
  9. Dec 28, 2007 #9
    SpottedCrow

    SpottedCrow Flock Goddess

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    Chickens moult 3 times in their first year, then usually once a year after that.
     

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