Is my hen moulting or not??

[Noniee]

I was just shutting my hens in tonight and I noticed one of my best chickens it bald on her belly and round her back side. She has been losing feathers for a couple of days now but I thought it was just a normal moult. The thing that worries me is that her skin is red. I'm not sure if this is normal or something I should look into? Any help would be much appreciated

 

[iwiw60]

Sounds like molting. My 4 BAs just got through with a molt...what a mess they made!! Geez, feathers everywhere!!

 

[Noniee]

Thanks for the reply. Glad it's just a moult I know! The garden is full of feathers

 

[TwoCrows]

Welcome to BYC!

If there is a blizzard of feathers, it is molting. Look around the neck and head to see if you see pin feathers. (new feathers that look like tiny pins) If you see a lot of these, then you definitely have a molter. If there are just patches of bare skin red and irritated and not growing any feathers, could be something else.

Enjoy all your adventures and welcome to our flock!

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! Nice article on molting http://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/217/moulting-a-natural-process

 

[roostersandhens]

 

[sourland]

Sounds like a full blown molt.

 

[gander007]

Alright

 

[drumstick diva]

 

[fawkestheman]

when chickens molt do they slow down laying?