Molting, habit, bullying or what?

[Rainieb]

Hello,
I have four RIR happy healthy hens. I slowly started to notice that Margherita has bald spots. When I go to pick her up she now screams and squawks and he’s very nervous. The places where the feathers are missing still have the end of the quill in her skin. Her comb looks paler than usual but otherwise she’s acting normal scratching and moving around. At first we thought one of the others were bullying her and plucking her but now I am not so sure. When I picked her up a lot of feathers soft ones were falling off of her.
Also we noticed most of her feathers are inside the coop. We don’t know if this is going on at night and if she’s plucking her self or another chicken is plucking her. Could she be the only one that’s molting out of four hens? This is their second fall. I feel very bad for her . I am attaching some pictures .
Thank you!!

 

[imnukensc]

She's molting. Nothing to worry about.

 

[LazytownChick]

They're very irritable when they're molting. My orpingtons are going through it right now and they look absolutely miserable! They are very slow to leave the hen house in the morning especially since it's getting colder.

 

[Feathers Brady]

Yep! Molting.
Out of my six hens only two are hard molting. Three are soft molting and one seems to be escaping it, getting an egg a day from her! None of the others are laying. High protein feed helps along with blk. Sunflower and mealworm for snacking.
Also, I keep from picking the girls up until the new feathers take over. It's painful for them .

 

[coach723]

https://www.wideopenpets.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-molting-chickens/

 

[Rainieb]

Thank you everyone! Poor girl.. I will leave her alone now. I totally thought she was in pain. I feel so much better now.

 

[Rainieb]

https://www.wideopenpets.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-molting-chickens/

Great information!! Thank you

 

[Rainieb]

Yep! Molting.
Out of my six hens only two are hard molting. Three are soft molting and one seems to be escaping it, getting an egg a day from her! None of the others are laying. High protein feed helps along with blk. Sunflower and mealworm for snacking.
Also, I keep from picking the girls up until the new feathers take over. It's painful for them .

Oh ! I thought she seemed like she was in pain. Yes will leave her be. Snacks sound like a great idea. Thank you!

 

[Rainieb]

They're very irritable when they're molting. My orpingtons are going through it right now and they look absolutely miserable! They are very slow to leave the hen house in the morning especially since it's getting colder.

Yes I did notice she’s in the coop more! Thank you for the info!

 

[Rainieb]

She's molting. Nothing to worry about.

Very relieved! Thank you!