Lil' Bit is arguing....with her own behind?

[gritsar]

Lil' Bit is molting, as is most of my flock. She looks much worse than the others. More like a porcupine than a chicken, with lots of her old feathers gone and new ones still in their sheath.
I was watching her in the coop this evening and she acts totally miserable. She doesn't want to sleep on the roosts with the others. She wanted to sleep in the nestbox, but I don't allow that so I made her a place by herself and she was content to roost there.
The thing is, when it was just me and her in the coop she would squawk like someone had grabbed her tailfeathers and reach back and pull at the new feathers coming in.
Is this normal behavior? Do the new feathers hurt or itch or something?
I've been excited for her because she's almost 17 months old and never had tail feathers - the others pulled them out when she was a baby and they never grew back. She's finally going to have them, if she'll only leave them alone!

 

[gritsar]

I'm bumping my own thread.

My question is, does getting new feathers hurt?

 

[fldiver97]

Hmmmm, I I am too new to chickens to answer that but I would not think it hurts. I am not sure that it is not irritating to have new feathers come in though. I wonder if she feels more vulnerable???? If she gets picked on it must be more uncomfortable without feathers. Good idea to help her settle in more private spot.

 

[LilBizzy]

LOL@ the title..
I really don't know about chickens growing in feathers, because I haven't really experienced it, but I do have 2 parrots, and I know for them, new feather growth is irritating and itchy. Plus they sometimes get grouchy. And the one really doesn't like new feathers coming in ( so he pulls them out, which in turn makes the whole process start again- very hard to break the cycle)
Extra protein helps, as does a warm water spray- moistens the feather shafts which softens it a little- at least, thats is what works for the parrots.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
We're doing the extra protein for everybody. I'll try the warm water spray, thanks! She's definitely miserable.