Losing feathers and stopped laying

[KellieC]

One of my hens started losing a lot of her feathers and is not laying any more. She is eating and drinking just fine and does not look or act sick. She is about a year old. Any ideas about the feather loss and stop laying?

 

[BoundlessLove]

One of my hens started losing a lot of her feathers and is not laying any more. She is eating and drinking just fine and does not look or act sick. She is about a year old. Any ideas about the feather loss and stop laying?

Is she molting?

 

[redinator]

One of my hens started losing a lot of her feathers and is not laying any more. She is eating and drinking just fine and does not look or act sick. She is about a year old. Any ideas about the feather loss and stop laying?

Mine are all under a year, but it sounds like she's having her first molt.

It's part of their natural cycle, like a dog shedding it's winter coat. I hear protein rich foods help them molt and get new feathers more quickly.

Wait for others to weigh in.

 

[BoundlessLove]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/what-happens-when-chickens-molt.67366/

 

[AlbusAbaforthFrodoSerius]

Definitely molting

 

[StinkyAcres]

I agree, probably a molt. In my experience it's uncommon but not unheard of for a pullet to go through a hard molt. My 10-month-old is in the middle of a mid-winter molt. The poor thing looks very cold! Her brother (same age) molted his tail a few months ago. It has grown back since.

 

[StinkyAcres]

That said it's always a good idea to rule out bugs, bullying, and stress as the cause of the feather loss and lack of eggs.

 

[debid]

I would be questioning her age if you didn't get her as a chick. How certain are you?