Is this a molt?

[brickmom68]

Over the last 2 weeks it seems my Easter egger is off her lay. Today I noticed these spots on her flanks where it seems she has feathers that are broken off. And she appears ‘smallish’. She does not appear to be acting sickly, I haven’t seen any of the other ladies picking on her, and I do not have a rooster. So I’m not sure this is trauma. I’ve noticed a lots of her plumage and lots of ‘fluff’ in the coop (I’m attributing the loss of fluff to her skinny appearance). She is 16 months old and our nights are getting cooler. I’ve never experienced a molt before, so I’m hoping that’s what it is—because I ain’t no chicken doctor!

 

[sourland]

Looks like she is molting.

 

[BarnyardChaos]

Yes, very likely she is molting! Chickens normally go through their first adult molt at about 18 months, and all chickens will molt in the fall when the days grow shorter. They will stop laying or slow down severely during this time, too. Some chickens go through a "hard molt", during which they appear to be almost naked and it's overwith quickly; and others a "soft molt" when they lose and regrow feathers over a longer period of time. It's helpful to switch their feed to a higher protein (20%-ish) until their pretty new plumage grows in.

 

[brickmom68]

Thank you! That makes me feel better—I thought she might be ill (but she wasn’t acting ill) and I didn’t want my other hens at risk! I was going to ask if I needed to do anything differently to support her, but you already answered. Thanks for your help.

 

[brickmom68]

Looks like she is molting.

Thank you!

 

[Mrs. K]

Really, they can look like they are dying. Once I went in, and it looked like a pillow exploded, I thought there had been a predator and something killed.

But they look like girls in new dresses when they get their new feathers!

 

[aart]

Age and time of year is right for molting, but those broken feathers are not part of it.

 

[brickmom68]

Really, they can look like they are dying. Once I went in, and it looked like a pillow exploded, I thought there had been a predator and something killed.

But they look like girls in new dresses when they get their new feathers!

She’s got (had) such pretty feathers, I hope her ‘new outfit’ is just as pretty.

Age and time of year is right for molting, but those broken feathers are not part of it.

so you think this is traumatic?

 

[aart]

so you think this is traumatic?

No, not necessarily...just that something(probably another flock member) has nipped off a few feather ends.