So most of my hens were born in June 2023- my 2 welsummers are on eggs strike since September, my black copper maran since October. Everyone else (Ameraucanas and Olive Eggers) have decreased egg production but have been laying weekly until… the third week of December when all of them decided to board the egg strike train including my heaviest layer, TW, my leghorn. I’m not really worried about the egg production because they are all looking healthy except TW. A month ago or so started sleeping in the nesting boxes (she has never done that before) and a week ago I realized that she had poop caked up in her butt feathers and she was acting oddly. So I gave her “a bath”, cleaned her behind and sprayed some stuff I had bought for it and in the process, I realized she is losing an extraordinary amount of feathers but no baby ones coming up. Where she lost feathers she looks like the chicken that they sell at the store. She is also acting oddly and stays behind in the run while normally she would be walking around the property with the others. Is it possible that she is molting now? Isn’t it a bit late for that? I treat monthly (if not biweekly) the coop area and the henhouse with DH but I do have straws in the run.
Should I be worried? All the others look amazing (clean healthy and fluffy) but she looks like she is having a rough time. What should I do? The photos below are right after I gave her a bath
Thank you for your help!
Should I be worried? All the others look amazing (clean healthy and fluffy) but she looks like she is having a rough time. What should I do? The photos below are right after I gave her a bath
Thank you for your help!