Molting & Aggression

[grandpas barn]

I have had my 6 girls for over a year and suddenly I have 1 bird everyone is picking on. For the last 2 months she would only leave the nesting box when I was there to look out for her. I would separate her from the others twice a day for exercise and food. Oddly enough they would often share the same nesting box without an issue, only attack her when on the floor. She now will not go in the nesting box and is being pecked at when roosting and on the floor. The last 2 days she has been molting and picking out her own feathers at all times. I am really worried about her; would anyone have advise for me. It's also winter and am worried about the cold weather if she is loosing her insulation. Thanks Grandpas Barn

 

[Bamabexchicks]

I have had my 6 girls for over a year and suddenly I have 1 bird everyone is picking on. For the last 2 months she would only leave the nesting box when I was there to look out for her. I would separate her from the others twice a day for exercise and food. Oddly enough they would often share the same nesting box without an issue, only attack her when on the floor. She now will not go in the nesting box and is being pecked at when roosting and on the floor. The last 2 days she has been molting and picking out her own feathers at all times. I am really worried about her; would anyone have advise for me. It's also winter and am worried about the cold weather if she is loosing her insulation. Thanks Grandpas Barn

Hey @Wyorp Rock or @Eggcessive do you have ideas on this?

 

[azygous]

During molt, a chicken can go from being socially well adjusted to being fearful and a basket case of nerves. Just because other chickens are going through molt at the same time doesn't mean they will make allowances for such behavior. In fact, it can actually make the others in the flock treat them even worse.

Don't mistake the obsessive preening chickens do during molt for self cannibalizing. Loose feathers fall away as a chicken indulges in this preening. The way to tell if feathers are being pulled out or are falling out due to molt is to inspect the bare spots for pin feathers poking through the skin. If they are uniformly present, the loss is due to molt.

I've had many a hen go an entire winter (minus zero temps) with bald areas due to being slow to regrow molted feathers and never lost a single one to freezing. In fact, the cold temps actually help stimulate regrowth in most chickens.

Try to be patient. Molt rarely last forever.

 

[aart]

Do they have plenty of space?
Dimensions and pics of coop/run would help here.

What all and how exactly are you feeding?
Molting birds would do well with some extra protein,
especially animal protein..scrambled eggs, mealworms, canned fish, etc.

 

[chickens really]

Was she Broody during the time she was staying in the nest box? Now she is molting I assume. What's the protein percentage of your feed?

 

[grandpas barn]

Thank you so much Azygous for the input, you have put my mind at ease. At least now I know she will not freeze. The old barn is well insulated but no heat. Is it wise to try and keep her away from the flock so they do not chase her, she is also the smallest of the 6 birds.

 

[grandpas barn]

Thanks aart, I am feeding them Purina Layena along with oyster shells. They also get a salad for breakfast everyday and a cabbage hanging from the ceiling to play with and tear apart. I took note of the lack of animal protein and will start tomorrow with scrambled eggs and canned tuna we have in the pantry. Next time I go to town I will pick up some mealworms.
The space is quite large for 6 birds. The coop itself is 6' x 8' x 8' high inside the barn with an indoor run of 10' x 10' and an outdoor run of 10' x 20' which is not being utilized right now. I will post pictures tomorrow

 

[grandpas barn]

Thanks chickens really, I am not sure of the protein level of the feed but I took note of aart's input and will start with some animal protein right away. You are correct about her nesting and now molting. This is the first bird I have that has molted and I guess I wasn't ready for it especially this time of year.

 

[Chickassan]

The only way you could seperate her and not have issues when she's done molting would be to do it within sight of the flock.
I wouldn't do this myself unless she's being bloodied or not being allowed to eat or drink.

 

[grandpas barn]

Thanks chickassan, it seems they won't let her eat. They keep chasing and attacking her, no blood yet but I chase them away. When they are sitting on the roost they will peck at her. I get nervous and take her out. At night I have been leaving her in the coop and the other 5 in the indoor run. There are windows and she can see them from her roost.