Hen losing feathers on neck, changed comb. Is she sick, stressed, or molting?

[yodelinginca]

We have a flock of 5 hens, all different breeds, 9 months old. Our brown leghorn was the first to lay, but stopped 2 months ago (she's our only white egg-layer so we know for sure she's not laying). Before she started laying, her comb was full, bright red and straight up. When she started laying it flopped over to her left. Now that she's stopped, it's shrunk, paled, and is curling to her right. Two days ago I noticed she had lost a LOT of feathers around her neck. She has good energy & appetite, gives as good as she gets when it comes to defending her treats, and isn't avoiding the others. She's lost a couple of big tail feathers too. FTR, this week has been her first long rainstorm (we're in CA central coast, temp has been in the 50s this week which is really low for us). The coop is sheltered, but the run is open-air (hardware cloth only, no solid roof).

 

[sourland]

She is molting and taking a break in her laying cycle.

 

[chrissynemetz]

I agree, it looks like she's molting.

 

[aart]

Pullets can have a partial molt their first fall/winter.
Cessation of lay and the resultant pale comb is normal during that time.

 

[yodelinginca]

Thanks, everybody. I think you're right- she is molting. Her neck feathers are coming back in nicely, but now she's lost all her big tail feathers, so she kind of looks like a wrongly-colored guinea fowl. It's actually kinda cute...