Leghorn hen cockscomb and wattles seem to be shriveling up after trauma.

[Linda Dee]

I have a Leghorn hens that was free ranging and had her tail feathers pulled out by something I believe must have tried to grab her. I first noticed her ditting close to the base of a bush. She was fluffed up and sitting with her eyes closed. I watched her a little while, tried to catch her but she was just too fast and ran into the coop. I let her go but the next morning she seemed to be fine even though her tail feathers were gone. She wss up and runni g around with thevrest of the flock. She did lay an egg after the first for almost 4 days then I noticed one of the other hens start to peck at her back side where the feathers were missing so I got z catch net, caught her took her in the house. I gave her a warm bath, towel dried her then dried with the low setting on my hairdryer. I insepected her all over. I couldn't find any cuts or scratches on her and with the exception of the bare spot from the missing feathers she seemed fine. I inspected her vent I had her wrapped in a towel. zher vent looked clean, moist clear of any obviour worms. I put her in a cage with shredded pine shavings, set her up a roost bar And put a carboard next box in with her.
She has been in the house for 3 weeks now, her tail feathers are growing back. She has been eating and drink, but she still has not laid another egg and it looks like her cockscomb and wattles are shrinking up. I can't find a poultry Vet any where near me. There is something wrong with her, but I am at loss as to what it is.
Only symptom that I can see is loss of feathers, shrinking cockscomb and wattles and not laying eggs.
Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[Eggcessive]

It sounds like she is molting after her traumatic event. That usually means the comb and wattles will shrink and may turn pale, they stop laying eggs, the feathers will be replaced by new ones, and they also may have a decreased appetite and activity. Hopefully, after regrowing feathers as the days grow longer, she will start to lay again. My hen who was attacked by my neighbor’s dog, went into an immediate molt, stopped laying, and it took a couple of months to start laying again.

 

[Linda Dee]

Another chicken friend that I got my rooster from mentioned that she might be molting, but she is only 9 months old ans isn't losing many feathers. There are some small ones in the cage. Do you lose all their feathers when they molt. I almost hope that is what it is.
Thank you so much for your response. Being a newbie to raising chicken can cause a bit of anxiety!....I tend to be a worry wart anyway when it comes my chickens. I will be so glad when I have gone throu s complete year and have gained some confidence in raising chickens.

 

[NatJ]

Do you lose all their feathers when they molt.

Not usually all at once.

Some chickens spend a long time molting, doing only a few feathers at a time.

Some others lose a lot of feathers at once and look almost naked for a while, but get done faster.

And sometimes a chicken will do a partial molt, where only some of their feathers get replaced.

 

[Linda Dee]

Thank you. I am beginning to believe that may be she is molting. Being new to chickens, I just assumed they just lost all their feathers at one time and I thought they had to be over a year old to go through molting. I laughingly said to my local chicken friend that I wondered who decided it was a good idea for chickens to lose all their feathers during the fall and winter.

 

[Linda Dee]

It sounds like she is molting after her traumatic event. That usually means the comb and wattles will shrink and may turn pale, they stop laying eggs, the feathers will be replaced by new ones, and they also may have a decreased appetite and activity. Hopefully, after regrowing feathers as the days grow longer, she will start to lay again. My hen who was attacked by my neighbor’s dog, went into an immediate molt, stopped laying, and it took a couple of months to start laying again.

Thank you. I am beginning to believe that may be she is molting. Being new to chickens, I just assumed they just lost all their feathers at one time and I thought they had to be over a year old to go through molting. I laughingly said to my local chicken friend that I wondered who decided it was a good idea for chickens to lose all their feathers during the fall and winter.

This morning when I went in to check on her, there were were a lot of little feathers all over her cage and a couple of long ones that looked like wing feathers, so I don't think there is any doubt now that that is whats going on. Thank every one so much for heading me in the direction. I am adding a little bit of calf manna to her feed to give her a little protein boost.

 

[Linda Dee]

Next question after the help determining that my girl is molting, do I dare work her back into the flock or should I keep her separate for a while?
I have a couple of other Leghorn hens that can be real bullies. I have to pull them each out for a "time-out" because they were running rough shod over every one else in the coop. That seems to cool their jets a bit. 4 days each in solitary confinement usually helps.

 

[NatJ]

I am adding a little bit of calf manna to her feed to give her a little protein boost.

One option is to just feed her chick starter--it's got all the right stuff to grow feathers, because chicks have to grow so many feathers as they're growing.

Chick starter is fine for chickens of all ages, and is usually higher in protein than layer feed. The only thing you have to add is a separate dish of oyster shell for laying-age hens, because they need more calcium than chicks do.

Some hens like chick starter better than their regular food, too. That can help if she's feeling miserable and othewise might not want to eat.

(You don't have to change her feed, just mentioning it as an option.)

 

[Linda Dee]

Thabk you. That is a better idea.

 

[Linda Dee]

I had the calf mana thats why I was going to use it, but you are right. I can imagine the starter is better.
Thanks