Not sure what's happening...

[LordLucan]

I'm hoping someone can give me some advice because I'm not sure what's going on...

I have 2 Isa Brown's that have been together forever and have recently added 2 Silkies and 2 Pullets to the flock. Although none of them have been put in with the Isa's yet, the Silkies are visible in a fenced off area, the Pullets are still hidden.

My problem is one of the Isa's is looking awful. The feathers right on the top of her head are gone completely, the rest of her body looks messy, and her belly is totally bald. Some of them look like the base of the feathers are still in her but the feather portion has gone.

I've checked her and her sister for mites or fleas but can't see anything. Her sister is in great looking condition. They share the same coop and living area.

Is she going through the molt? Is her sister attacking her (perhaps because of the new chickens)?

Can anyone help figure out what's happening? ...and if there's anything I can do about it...

Thank you!!

 

[Kevin565]

Can you get pictures of the bird? It sounds like a bad molt to me.

 

[seminolewind]

It does sound like a bad molt. I've had a few do it to me, and they were skin and bones, and tired alot. It scared me. But they got new feathers and got better and became fat again. Molting can take alot out of them. Maybe some extra protein for the girl.

 

[LordLucan]

Thanks! I'm pleased it doesn't sound like something worse. I'll try and get a picture or two tonight (assuming the forecasted thunderstorms don't hit)...

Any recommendations for what to use as the extra protein?

 

[seminolewind]

Egg whites (uncooked), tuna, look at the food labels around your house, and see how much protein. Or maybe someone else here has a better list, LOL

 

[LordLucan]

I've read a few other posts and it looks like Black Oil Sunflower Seeds would help so I'll pick up a bag of those tonight on the way home.

Here are a couple of pictures of my troubled girl next to her much healthy friend. Still look like a bad molt?


Messy tail feathers:




Balding head (just like me) and messy wings/shoulder:

 

[LordLucan]

Would someone mind taking a look at my pictures and just confirming (or denying) whether they think this looks like a molt?

She's extremely bare on her belly as well but she wasn't keen on being held upside down to have a picture taken of that.

 

[chickenzoo]

Hi, yes it does look like molting.