Losing feathers

[JesCelina]

my one hen is losing an awful lot of her feathers...I’m concerned because here it is the end of October (and it’s COLD here already in mid mich) I don’t want her to get sick. Do they generally molt around this time? She is 2yrs old and is a silver laced wyonndot. Any advice would be appreciated

 

[Better Than Rubies]

I'm not sure if they'd be molting at this time, but I wouldn't be surprised, as I think I read they tend to molt in fall? But then again, probably early fall.
Or maybe someone's picking on her? Or she's sick or has lice/mites? If not those, most likely she is molting, and then there's nothing to be concerned about, except making sure she gets plenty of protein. Mealworms are really high in protein, by the way.

Oh, one more thing: Is she still laying? And when did you notice this going on?

 

[MillersFarm]

my one hen is losing an awful lot of her feathers...I’m concerned because here it is the end of October (and it’s COLD here already in mid mich) I don’t want her to get sick. Do they generally molt around this time? She is 2yrs old and is a silver laced wyonndot. Any advice would be appreciated

I've got a silver lace wyandotte thats going through a hard molt right now. Most of my chickens are done molting but i still have about 8 chickens still molting and some just starting so i wouldn't be worry yet

 

[coach723]

Look her over for any pinfeathers coming in, usually most obvious around the head/neck, under wings, around the tail and vent. If you see pin feathers then it's a molt. Generally birds molt in the fall, but they can do it anytime. I have some that are finished with molt, and some that are not and still have bare spots, it varies. Handle gently, molting can be uncomfortable for them.
Other causes for feather loss can be mites/lice or feather picking.

 

[ronott1]

my one hen is losing an awful lot of her feathers...I’m concerned because here it is the end of October (and it’s COLD here already in mid mich) I don’t want her to get sick. Do they generally molt around this time? She is 2yrs old and is a silver laced wyonndot. Any advice would be appreciated

She will be fine!

They are often miserable when they molt. New feathers will start coming in and she will be very pretty--3 to 5 weeks depending on the chicken.

Take some high quality photos and enter them in the molting chicken contest. It should start up soon

 

[JesCelina]

She will be fine!

They are often miserable when they molt. New feathers will start coming in and she will be very pretty--3 to 5 weeks depending on the chicken.

Take some high quality photos and enter them in the molting chicken contest. It should start up soon

Thank you so much!!! I feel a lot better

 

[JesCelina]

I'm not sure if they'd be molting at this time, but I wouldn't be surprised, as I think I read they tend to molt in fall? But then again, probably early fall.
Or maybe someone's picking on her? Or she's sick or has lice/mites? If not those, most likely she is molting, and then there's nothing to be concerned about, except making sure she gets plenty of protein. Mealworms are really high in protein, by the way.

Oh, one more thing: Is she still laying? And when did you notice this going on?

I don’t believe she’s being picked on...she’s the head hen no signs of lice. I pray she’s not sick. I have been adding scratch and also mealworms but none of them seem to care for them much. Thanks

 

[JesCelina]

I'm not sure if they'd be molting at this time, but I wouldn't be surprised, as I think I read they tend to molt in fall? But then again, probably early fall.
Or maybe someone's picking on her? Or she's sick or has lice/mites? If not those, most likely she is molting, and then there's nothing to be concerned about, except making sure she gets plenty of protein. Mealworms are really high in protein, by the way.

Oh, one more thing: Is she still laying? And when did you notice this going on?

 

[JesCelina]

I'm not sure if they'd be molting at this time, but I wouldn't be surprised, as I think I read they tend to molt in fall? But then again, probably early fall.
Or maybe someone's picking on her? Or she's sick or has lice/mites? If not those, most likely she is molting, and then there's nothing to be concerned about, except making sure she gets plenty of protein. Mealworms are really high in protein, by the way.

Oh, one more thing: Is she still laying? And when did you notice this going on?

I noticed it 3 days ago....no eggs for about a week

 

[Better Than Rubies]

Well, I'm sure she's healthy. And it's normal for chickens to not lay many, if any, eggs when they're molting, I believe.