Need some help/advice please. **Pics included**

[csummer8882]

I have 6 girls, all have been lovely since they came to me as 1 day olds back in April. Most started laying back in August. A few weeks back, one of my girls comb and wattles had started going a paleish color, more pink than red. Seemed weird to me since they have always been red. Then, her neck was nothing but feather quills. I spent a lot of time at the coop, looking for pecking and checking for bugs. Nada. Her neck has started growing feathers back but her comb and wattles are still pale. She eats and drinks normally and noone seems to bug her. I have attached a few pics for you all to peek at. Any ideas? Thanks!

And this last one, her with a few other girls so you can compare comb colors.

 

[flowergirl60]

Looks to me like she is molting. That is exactly how my youngest hen is right now. Her comb is also paler than usual. Is yours still laying? Mine quit laying around 2 wks before the molt.

 

[Ukiah]

They're molting, don't worry about it.

It's totally normal for the bird's comb to become pale during a molt,
& the quills are the new feathers growing in. Molt usually lasts anywhere
from 2-5 months.

Good luck!


Edited because I suck at typing..

 

[csummer8882]

Molting already even though they are only 8 months old? Wow, ok, I thought that it was much later than this. I read that they have a few "mini molts" before adulthood but nothing like this. Right now, I am only getting 3 eggs a day out of 6 girls but I attributed that to the lack of light we are getting into now. I didnt install lights at the coop so it starts getting dark right around now.

Thank you!

 

[Ukiah]

Yep, they can molt at 8 months old. Some hens will quit laying, some will not. The amount of eggs she
lays may decrease, however. Her molt will be over soon. Good luck!

 

[allieloveschickens]

two of my 8 month olds are molting too, they both have pale combs and have covered my yard in feathers. My cochin has been molting for over three months now! My cuckoo maran just started two weeks ago. Can't wait for them to get their feathers back and lay again, I am down to only three layers with them out of commission. At least they are not all molting together

 

[csummer8882]

Awesome! Thank you soo soo much everyone!

I appreciate it!