Molting hen - lethargic and decreased appetite

[LakeGirlHens]

I have a Brown Leghorn. Not sure of her age but might be 3 years old. Last year when she molted her personality changed. She’s normally the top girl but when she molted she became subdued. However, this year she started molting earlier than usual… Around late August. It is early December and she’s still molting. I do not see any blood pen feathers but many of the new feathers still have the protective keratin sheath on them. I live in a very cold climate- Minnesota. Last several days she didn’t want to get off the roast and she even goes into the nesting box to get away. Not eating or drinking much so I brought her in the garage. It is cold so I don’t want her struggling to keep warm in single digits outside in her run. She ate her about a tablespoon of her layer when I brought her into the garage. She also had several gulps of water. She didn’t want scrambled eggs, ham or beef tidbits which she normally would gobble down. I have tried worms, blueberries but just not interested which is not typical for her. She was interested in chopped walnuts & pine nuts (I didn’t have any shelled sunflower seed). I noticed her decreased appetite since last Thursday. I’ve been feeling her croup and barely anything in it but now that she ate about a tablespoon of layer feed I feel food in it. She has normal poop but not much since not eating much. I’m worried that she is so lethargic. I don’t know if she is sick or if she just had low energy due to cold and molting. It is supposed to be 30 degrees F tomorrow so I’ll put her back out in the run/coop but keeping her in the garage tonight since only 5 degrees outside. She clucks when I talk to her but spending most of her days laying down. Her comb is red but not bright and earlobe cream when normally bright white.No poultry vet near. Any thoughts?

 

[azygous]

First of all, layer feed has not got enough protein in it to get hens through the demands of molt. Spring for a bag of chick starter and feed the hens that until they complete molt.

This hen may be pushing herself to the limits pf her reserves. I have had a molting hen stop eating entirely and I had to tube feed her to bring her back from the brink. I don't think your hen is that far gone since she will still eat a little. I believe she will likely take to the chick starter. Buy a little bag and try it. Also, give her a cup of water with one teaspoon of sugar in it to raise her blood glucose. It will give her an energy boost.

If she does refuse to eat, you may need to tube feed her to get an infusion of nutrients into her.