Molting or Ill??

[pbjmaker]

Our favorite EE hen seems to be going through a hard molt. She has been loosing lots of feathers and looks terrible, almost droopy. She also hasn't laid an egg in almost two weeks. Is this how a molt should go?

She is 13 months old, eats complete layer, "free ranges" in my extra large back yard, seems to be her normal weight, abdomen feels soft when palptated (not bloated, nor do I feel an egg), I don't see any abnormal poop in the coop or yard from anyone, bedding is now hay (switched last week) and was ground corn cobs before that (like little pellets) They were dusted with sevin last month and I don't see any bugs on her.

I just want to be sure she is not sick.

 

[canada-goose]

Sounds fine to me.
She's probably just feeling awful right now. I know I would feel droopy if I were getting in new pinfeathers!

 

[<3<3 I <3 Chickens <3<3]

Check out this website, it may help.

http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/library/lvstk2/mf2308.pdf

hope it helps.

 

[pbjmaker]

<3<3 I <3 Chickens <3<3 :

Check out this website, it may help.

http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/library/lvstk2/mf2308.pdf

hope it helps.

Thanks - great article. I'm now convinced she is indeed molting and that my cuckoo maran is on the verge of joining her.
Interesting that they are my only two standard hens and they are the ones molting first.​