Molting Again !!!!!

[meekasmom]

My 2 hens finished a heavy molt this fall and now there's feathers everywhere and the tops of their heads are practically bald. They have tufts of downy feathers sticking out all over their bodies. They have not been laying all winter but the last 2 days there has been 1 egg each day. This just doesn't add up. What is going on?

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Could they have mites or a protein deficiency? Can you post pics?

 

[Happy Chooks]

Some hens will molt in stages. First the body and then the hackle (head/neck) feathers. They need all their extra protein to grow in the feathers, so they don't typically lay eggs during a molt.

 

[Sassafras]

I had one that has her feathers coming in. It was just a patch around her neck. Now there are two more hens starting! It is getting cold here in NH. Why this time of year??