Is my hen sick?!

[poultry person]

I have a hen who is 1 year old and this summer she got broody and didn't lay any eggs . For 2-3 weeks now she stopped going in her nesting box, lost a lot of wait, loosing feathers, and whenever I get near she runs away. Does this happen after hens get broody or does she look sick?

last winter:

now:

 

[poultry person]

???????

 

[21hens-incharge]

Ah the joys of molting.

She appears to be changing her feathers.
While broody they do not lay eggs, while molting they do not lay eggs.
After being broody and also just before winter they tend to molt.

 

[poultry person]

If she does look sick do you have any advice?

 

[21hens-incharge]

Oh and being broody usually means weight loss.

If she is running from you she is active yes?
So long as she is eating and drinking and scratching about she should be beautiful again soon.

While new feathers are growing in it can be uncomfortable to be handled.

 

[poultry person]

Ok thanks, she is at the top of the pecking order so she is always picking on the other hens.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Since she is molting she will be using a lot of protein growing new feathers.
You can help her through it by giving things like boiled egg, canned mackerel and lean meat scraps with no seasoning on them.

It is fine for all your bird to have the items listed. They will all be molting soon anyway lol. That is if they are over a year old.