Molting?

[newmamahen]

Hi! My 1 year old hen, was broody for quite a long time, and is now molting terribly! Is there a possibility she has mites? If so, is there something I can do to fix this issue? She doesn't seem at all upset by this, but she is losing quite a few feathers! Thanks!

 

[New Chicken Lad]

Hi. Your hen could definitely have mites or lice if she has been broody for a while. When a hen is broody she does not take care of herself at all. Her only concern is sittings on her eggs waiting the arrival of her babies. Go here for info: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/maintaining-a-healthy-flock

While broody, she also pulls out feathers in her chest breast area to release her heat to the eggs.

From what I've read about molting, molting usually occurs in the fall after the hen is more than a year old.

Also, according to your byline, you only have hens. If your broody hens has no access to fertilized eggs, there is absolutely no good reason to allow her to be broody. You should break her of it. Just search for Breaking Broody Hen...

For your reading pleasure here is my long winded post from back in May when I had my first broody experience: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/775774/my-first-broody-am-i-doing-this-right-very-long-winded

Best of luck, Helen