Moult questions

[Clucking happy]

Hi, so I have searched and read through as many moult posts as possible. I guess I’m just looking for some hand holding, as it’s our first winter!
One of our 12 girls is araucana, got her in April and she only starting laying in June- so I’m guessing she’s maybe about a year (?).
She’s the smallest hen we have, no roo, generally she has “short bird syndrome”- chip on both shoulders, not the leader, but gets away with pushing the others about. Chatty and friendly with humans and normally loves a cuddle.
She stopped laying end of November, no surprise as daylight hours reducing- no signs of concern and eating as normal. Feathers in coop starting increasing about 2ish week ago.
Over the last few days she’s at the rough looking phase, she looks “ratty”- chest and neck have a lot of patches where there’s sheath covered feathers (are they the pin feathers?). Was a bit of a shock if I’m honest at how awful she looked. Obviously we know it can be uncomfortable, so we have been avoiding touch (normally she likes a cuddle).

My concern is that she’s now drifted away from the flock, they free range during day- with access to run and sheltered areas, one of the ‘newer’ girls (been with them for 3months) is pecking at her intermittently and little baldie then runs away. She does however go in the coop with coop with everyone and is snuggled on bars at night. With us she’s less friendly, understandable, so we just give her space.

I have checked coop for mites at night, I’ve looked the other girls over for evidence of lice (assuming that it wouldn’t be only on one- but please correct me if I’m a foolish newb, I just don’t want to stress her with handling). Worm count 10 days ok was clear.
We feed a 18% grower mix, have oyster shell ad lib (and grit separately for those who don’t fancy ranging). We do give occasional eggs and I’m sure to get a helper to ensure she doesn’t have to push others to get some, as she’s obviously keen to avoid the scrum.
I’m trying not to overthink, but these girls are pets, much loved. Any advice welcomed.

 

[azygous]

First of all, molting at age one year shouldn't be the major costume change it is for older chickens. While some feather loss is expected at the end of the series of juvenile molts, you shouldn't see large patches of baldness. I would observe the flock to rule out feather picking. Lice shouldn't cause feather loss, and yes, it can affect only a select few.

Your hen may be experiencing some bullying. You need to watch to see if she's being bullied away from the feeder. If it appears little miss tough-stuff is having too much trouble standing up for herself, there is a method to restore her self confidence. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/chicken-bully-chicken-victim-a-two-sided-issue.73923/

Hormones are at a low ebb at this time of year and that has an effect on behavior. Normally cuddly hens become stand-offish, and along with the discomfort of pin feathers growing in, they aren't at all interested in getting touchy-feely. I have thirteen hens, all pets, and just one hen has continued to enjoy snuggles. The rest quickly scoot out of reach when I get near.

Extra protein feedings during molt can help a lot. Appetites suffer during molt, and some chickens can get very weak and lethargic. Fish or meat or cooked egg once a week will help put weight back on and help grow new feathers. Limit it to once a week since it can be a strain on the kidneys.

 

[Clucking happy]

First of all, molting at age one year shouldn't be the major costume change it is for older chickens. While some feather loss is expected at the end of the series of juvenile molts, you shouldn't see large patches of baldness. I would observe the flock to rule out feather picking. Lice shouldn't cause feather loss, and yes, it can affect only a select few.

Your hen may be experiencing some bullying. You need to watch to see if she's being bullied away from the feeder. If it appears little miss tough-stuff is having too much trouble standing up for herself, there is a method to restore her self confidence. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/chicken-bully-chicken-victim-a-two-sided-issue.73923/

Hormones are at a low ebb at this time of year and that has an effect on behavior. Normally cuddly hens become stand-offish, and along with the discomfort of pin feathers growing in, they aren't at all interested in getting touchy-feely. I have thirteen hens, all pets, and just one hen has continued to enjoy snuggles. The rest quickly scoot out of reach when I get near.

Extra protein feedings during molt can help a lot. Appetites suffer during molt, and some chickens can get very weak and lethargic. Fish or meat or cooked egg once a week will help put weight back on and help grow new feathers. Limit it to once a week since it can be a strain on the kidneys.

Thanks that’s really helpful, I think it’s mostly around top of head/ neck and her “pantaloons” that we see it- she’s not got huge patches. Chest looks rough/ scruffy rather than sleek- but it’s not the full outfit compared to photos online.
With her longer established girls, she doesn’t seem as close but she’s ok with them, shares feeder/ drinker (we have multiple stations as well). Although she doesn’t want them too close to her, she will eat/ drink at same time, there’s no pauses that the youngest will do with the bigger ones. I hope that makes sense, I understand that is a dynamics indicator- but if I’ve misinterpreted let me know!
I will have a look at the confidence booster approach and see if that might help, with the wet and windy weather I’m wondering if it’s better to keep them within their covered run, but then balancing that increased stress.
She’s definitely our most tricky bird!!

 

[DLA]

Chickens can get really weird when they are molting. I've got 2 in full molt now and two that just finished. 3 of them got very standoffish and were apt to wander off from the flock and be cranky, almost acting like they were being bullied but they were not. I kept a close eye out for that. While the 4th one didn't seem to act much different than normal. It's always good to check that there's no parasites or bullying going on and feed a higher protein feed during that time but you can also expect strange behavior during molt. I've also noticed some (but not all) get runnier poo during molt. It's a hormonal thing I think.

 

[Clucking happy]

Chickens can get really weird when they are molting. I've got 2 in full molt now and two that just finished. 3 of them got very standoffish and were apt to wander off from the flock and be cranky, almost acting like they were being bullied but they were not. I kept a close eye out for that. While the 4th one didn't seem to act much different than normal. It's always good to check that there's no parasites or bullying going on and feed a higher protein feed during that time but you can also expect strange behavior during molt. I've also noticed some (but not all) get runnier poo during molt. It's a hormonal thing I think.

That’s really helpful too. I’m not seeing bullying and I will add that we do spend a lot of time with the flock (two obsessed Neurodiverse children). So it could just be that she’s wanting peace and quiet.
Hopefully those feathers won’t take too long.
18% seems highest I can find at my ag merchants, but if any UK folks know of anything better let me know!

 

[DLA]

All flock feed often is about 20% or a little higher, like what you'd feed if you had turkeys or ducks etc. You just have to make sure they have free choice calcium available for any layers since layer feed has that but all flock feed doesn't. I don't know what you have available there in the UK but I order it online Kalmbach brand thru chewy.com

 

[Clucking happy]

The 18% is growers pellets, the layers pellets I can find are only 16%. I’ll have a little call about tomorrow and see if I can get anything else.
As couple of the girls haven’t started laying, summer chicks I’ve not put them on layers yet and absolutely have loads of oyster shell out.