Molting in February?

[Stuwe]

Hello - long time stalker, first time poster..

I have 3 girls (first chickens ever). My White Rock started to lose feathers about a week ago. I opened up their run and thought the worst had happened - feathers everywhere! - but i found everyone fine and acting normal. Then i noticed Hope (my white rock) with a bald spot on her neck. I assume this is a molt (she will be 1yr old 3/1/19) but I’m also scared of mites and lice! None of the other ladies are losing feathers... is it unheard of to molt in the cold? Its been in the 20s-30s here (John Day OR). I just want to make sure my baby is ok. I attached a picture i took this morning while she was having breakfast.
Any help would be wonderful!

 

[PirateGirl]

See all those spiky pin feathers? That is a good sign that it's just a normal molt (though maybe not the best time of year for it, it happens) because those are brand new feathers growing in. If it was feather loss due to a fight or a predator or parasites you might have lots of feather loss but not necessarily lots of new feathers growing in right away like this.

 

[FlyAnywayAJ]

We had a Wyandotte moult in January here in Canada when it was -30 F and she's fine. First time one of our girls has moulted in the winter so I'm not sure if that's "normal" or not but she didn't freeze or even get frost bite.

 

[Stuwe]

See all those spiky pin feathers? That is a good sign that it's just a normal molt (though maybe not the best time of year for it, it happens) because those are brand new feathers growing in. If it was feather loss due to a fight or a predator or parasites you might have lots of feather loss but not necessarily lots of new feathers growing in right away like this.

Oh good! I was trying to trust my gut - but since I haven’t any experience in what is “normal” I figured double checking with some pros couldn’t hurt. Thank you

 

[Stuwe]

I’m sad to report that poor Hope lost so many feathers the other 2 girls starting pecking at her. Thankfully they didn’t break the skin and never saw blood. We have Hope sectioned off in her own spot with heat/food/water/roost in the run. She looks pathetic and is refusing to eat treats (she did eat a little cucumber this morning and it’s evident by her food dish that she’s eating pellets). I feel so bad for her and i just hope i am doing the right thing. I attached a few more pictures.... She’s just been laying in the hay in front of her radiant heater all day

 

[Morrigan]

Poor girl, she's molting hard. I've had hens molt in the Jan to March time frame before, but not such a hard molt. A hard molt like this takes a lot out of hen and they may act depressed and under the weather because of it. It looks like you are giving her some scrambled eggs? If so, that is good, as a little extra protein (eggs, canned tuna, etc.) will help her along. Regrowing feathers requires a lot of energy and protein.

Can she still hear and see the other hens from her sectioned off part? If she can, I don't see any harm in giving her some relief from the other hens. I've had hard molters self-isolate -- hiding under bushes during the day and sleeping the nest boxes -- until the worst of it is over.

 

[chickenpeeple]

My chickens molt at random times too. That's probably good that you separated her.

 

[Stuwe]

Poor girl, she's molting hard. I've had hens molt in the Jan to March time frame before, but not such a hard molt. A hard molt like this takes a lot out of hen and they may act depressed and under the weather because of it. It looks like you are giving her some scrambled eggs? If so, that is good, as a little extra protein (eggs, canned tuna, etc.) will help her along. Regrowing feathers requires a lot of energy and protein.

Can she still hear and see the other hens from her sectioned off part? If she can, I don't see any harm in giving her some relief from the other hens. I've had hard molters self-isolate -- hiding under bushes during the day and sleeping the nest boxes -- until the worst of it is over.

 

[Stuwe]

Thank u for the reply. I’m so scared for her. My husband and i are worried sick. I gave her birdseed and electrolytes in her water too (in addition to eggs). It just hurts to see her so miserable. I want my precious snuggle butt back! She has access to the other girls. We just put a fence partition in the run. I wanted to make sure she could still talk to her sisters. We got another 4 inches of snow last night so I’m sure everyone will stay inside today. Poor timing!!!

 

[Stuwe]

My chickens molt at random times too. That's probably good that you separated her.

Silly girls! Don’t they know they make us worry!?