Molting?

[Morgan7782]

Alright I am almost positive this is a molt now. My poor Brahma's tailfeathers are all screwed up now. Poor girl! I will be offering her some protien packed treats tomorrow!

 

[TomG]

Morgan7782, I'm going through the same thing you describe right now. I also posted and was told it was a molt and that my girl was having PMS... pre molting syndrom. Not to worry, spring will come and things will be fine again, I hope.

 

[Judy]

More than half of mine are either molting or just molted.

Sometimes people have them get very irritable. Lap chickens might not want to be touched. Appetite may not be as good, just when they could use extra protein.

Heck, a molt sure looks like it would be miserable.

 

[Morgan7782]

I have never experienced such a thing! It is an exciting first and I am relieved to know all is probably well. I have spent the day reading up on molts and am glad to know a lot of others are in similar boats. I noticed this evening Monica (the Brahma)'s tail feathers are looking... Ragged lol. And I have no roosters, and got a bit worried at the sudden rise in feathers but am relieved now. Thanks a bunch all!

 

[Yay Chicks!]

Two of mine are molting and they are about 8 1/2 months. One appears to be coming to the end of the molt, loosing less feathers, gaining new neck feathers etc. The other just started. They are not laying. However, the are acting normally...eating, drinking, doing chicken stuff. I thought it was too early for molt, but got feedback that others have gone through an early molt as well.

Just in case you might want to check them for bugs.

 

[TomG]

Yay Chicks! :

Two of mine are molting and they are about 8 1/2 months. One appears to be coming to the end of the molt, loosing less feathers, gaining new neck feathers etc. The other just started. They are not laying. However, the are acting normally...eating, drinking, doing chicken stuff. I thought it was too early for molt, but got feedback that others have gone through an early molt as well.

Just in case you might want to check them for bugs.

I just searched for bugs and found a small microphone over the roosting area. I then remembered that I was the one who put it there. No other bugs of any kind that havn't been gobbled up.​

 

[Morgan7782]

Checked for bugs when I saw the first pile, nada.

My backyard looks like a chicken murder happened though LOL. Everytime Monica shakes feathers go flying everywhere, I am certain now she is molting. She is about 9-10 months old, and all the symptoms are right on. The backyard is a mess though lol, maybe I should make her a chicken sweater haha

 

[Yay Chicks!]

Quote:
I just searched for bugs and found a small microphone over the roosting area. I then remembered that I was the one who put it there. No other bugs of any kind that havn't been gobbled up.

 

[Birdvet]

Rest assured that loosing feathers is not a sign of Marek's. I think that your bird is molting. Even if your bird is not 1 year old, it could still be molting. It does occur in younger birds. I have also seen birds loose this many feathers after they have has a frightening experience, like something trying to get into their coop. However in these cases you generally see more than one pile of feathers and they are scattered over the cage. If your bird is eating and has normal poops, with no other symptoms, you have no need to be concerned. However, if she is not laying eggs, not vocalizing, sleeping more than normal, then you need to take her to see an avian veterinarian.

Dr B
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Adj. Professor of Avian Medicine and Surgery – NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine
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[Morgan7782]

Great! She is not lathargic or sleeping constantly, but does seem a bit drained. I have upped her protien a little hopefully that will help. Feather loss seems to be in 'typical' places, but boy is she losing them! My poor big fluffy Brahma is no longer fluffy and puffy lol. I felt her though and she doesn't seem to have lost WEIGHT or body mass, just.. feathers. My coop looks like a chicken massacar, but it's only under where she roosts.

Luckily I am in Sacramento, so it doesn't get real cold and far as I know never snows, so at least we aren't in Montana or Canada! She is eating, drinking, pooping normal, and is keeping up pretty well with the rest of the girls, she just seems a little tired like molting is taking some energy from her.