Losing Feathers Rapidly

[Couchie]

One of our beloved bantams, 'Apricot' is losing feathers rapidly. Every time she flaps her wings half a dozen or so feathers come out. She has not seemed as happy the last couple of weeks and a little withdrawn from her friends. She is eating but not enthusiastically. The other chickens are not pecking her. We initially thought she might be trying to get a winter coat (south coast Australia) or age but now we are really not sure.

I will follow the guide for these posts with the rest of the information.
1) small bantam. weight may be lighter than before. we don't know how old she is but we bought her from an auction about 8 months ago.
2) losing feathers in several areas, especially around the wings.
3) about 4 days of noticeable feather loss and feathers lying around the yard.
4) Other birds are not showing the same loss of feathers or loss of appetite.
5) There does not seem to be any bleeding. When trying to take the photo I accidentally brushed the tips where feathers should be and she is very sensitive at the base where feathers should be.
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
7) she has a free range over a grass area, under some pencil pines and within a coop the chickens get locked up at night.
8) Poop seems pretty normal, hard to say, we did notice a week ago that she seemed to be struggling to get it out but yesterday I noticed it was perhaps a bit quick.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
10 ) I don't know what to do as far as treatment goes and I am hoping for some advice from the forum
11) posted
12) Small commercial house for 4 chickens. Straw bed over boards. Changed the type of straw but I don't think that is the cause because other chickens are fine.

Any advice, ideas and recommendations appreciated.

 

[21hens-incharge]

She looks to be molting.
I see lots of new feathers coming in.

Nice shot by the way.

She may be feeling off during the molt. It takes a lot out of them. She may need some extra protein like a tablespoon of fish twice a day for a week then just once a day should help.

 

[getaclue]

She appears to be in full molt. If I remember correctly, and do correct me if I'm wrong, your seasons begin, and end at a different time of year than ours do. Aren't you headed into colder weather now?

 

[getaclue]

Add some animal protein to her diet. That helps a lot. Canned cat food is cheaper here, so it's used a lot during molt, but canned fish such as tuna, mackerel, salmon all work well too. Try not to handle her too much, because those little shafts make their skin more sensitive than usual.

 

[Couchie]

thank you so much for the information.
yes getaclue it is coming into colder months. Still autumn/fall but it wont be long before winter arrives.
I was wondering how to give her fish protein, but fish and canned fish is very do-able and cat food is a good idea. I just gave them some fish that was left over from 'fish and chips' the healthy ones ran to it but Apricot left it. I might go and see the worm seller down the road.