NOT molting?

[mammajen]

Hi there, has anyone seen chickens looking like this? I do not think this is simple molting, but as I am new with chickens, I could be wrong..

 

[jcoz]

Looks like moulting to me. New feathers growing in. I had a couple of my girls look way worse.

 

[mammajen]

Well, that certainly makes me feel better because it doesn't look pretty. No mites that I can tell. The rest just have messy feathers falling out everywhere. Additionally, they've been doing this atleast 4 months, but the woman at the Feed store says due to our weather (CT) they may extend their molting time.
Thanks for your input

 

[jcoz]

Is she older (over a year old?). My pen looks like a pillow blew up. They generally moult/molt after a year or so when the days get shorter. I had one moult in june and have one that just grew back butt fuzz recently. You'll see them lose it in certain areas at a time, head, neck, back... but my one girl lost her tail first. Just watch if you're concerned. If you see the downy/fluffy feathers growing in or the pin/blood feathers (depending on who you are talking to), I wouldnt be concerned too much.

 

[jcoz]

Wait til you have a bird go broody. First time makes you crazy.

 

[mammajen]

Oh geez.. what does "go broody" mean? Like I said.. total novice here.
And yes, the hens are 18-20 months old

 

[junebuggena]

Oh geez.. what does "go broody" mean? Like I said.. total novice here.
And yes, the hens are 18-20 months old

When a hen goes broody, she just sits sort of trance like, all day and night. They hardly eat or drink.

 

[jcoz]

How's your chick doing? Feathering out? Hope all is well.

 

[3riverschick]

https://www.nutrenaworld.com/product/naturewise-feather-fixer-poultry-feed

Hi,
Go get a bag of Nutrena Feather Fixer feed. Give it to all birds over 16 week sold. You will be astonished! at the quality of feathers that will grow back in. In addition the birds may continue to lay during the molt. This is great feed. My flock went into molt and other BYCer's were telling me about it. I thought what could it hurt? So tried it. Wow! The new set of feathers was just lovely! Everything they said it would do, it did!
Best Regards,
Karen

 

[junebuggena]

https://www.nutrenaworld.com/product/naturewise-feather-fixer-poultry-feed

Hi,
Go get a bag of Nutrena Feather Fixer feed. Give it to all birds over 16 week sold. You will be astonished! at the quality of feathers that will grow back in. In addition the birds may continue to lay during the molt. This is great feed. My flock went into molt and other BYCer's were telling me about it. I thought what could it hurt? So tried it. Wow! The new set of feathers was just lovely! Everything they said it would do, it did!
Best Regards,
Karen

Feather Fixer has the same level of calcium as layer feed and should not be fed to birds that aren't laying. Too much calcium can eventually kill birds.