Molting and odd behavior

[flock mommasan]

My little Rockette -- #2 on the pecking order -- is molting quite badly right now. I wasn't that concerned but now she's acting oddly. She seems to be walking sideways with her head cocked part of the time. Is it that she feels badly with all the feathers going and coming? Or is this something to be concerned about? She is still pecking and scratching around the coop but when she stops she kind of "sinks into" herself...crouched down partway and head pulled in.

I haven't seen any of the others pecking at her so I don't think she's being bullied.

The pictures aren't very clear, but the top one shows her molting to some extent and the bottom one shows her odd walk.

Any thoughts?

 

[centrarchid]

Possibly an inner ear issue or neurological issue.

 

[flock mommasan]

Possibly an inner ear issue or neurological issue.

I suppose there's really nothing I can do right now but wait and see? I'm heartened that she is continuing to eat and drink.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

That's normal for some. All those picky feathers coming in can cause some odd behaviors.

 

[Folly's place]

That is an amazingly nasty molt! Some do it all more gracefully than others...
Mary

 

[flock mommasan]

Just as a follow up -- after a day or two of odd behavior (walking crooked, for example), Rockette is now "fully clothed" and back to her plucky self. I suspect that major molt must have been painful and she was doing her best to get through it!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Thank you for the update. I'm glad she's feeling better now.

 

[micstrachan]

Poor thing! That was a brutal molt!