Odd behaviour please assist

[TwoLittleDuccleChicks]

Hi everyone,

First time chicken owner - I have bantum duccles.

My hen is 9 months old now and I live in Australia so it’s approaching the 36 degree days (very dry heat).

She has been losing a lot of feathers it’s like a pillow fight every time I open the coop but she isn’t balding there are no spots of no feathers on her. She has stopped laying for 2 weeks now as well and is quite skittish.

She was a little broody before I left on holiday so she wanted to just sit on her egg but she got over that pretty quickly. I’m not sure if this is all stress induced because I was away (they are used to a lot of attention).

Recently she hasn’t wanted to be outside so I let her come inside where the fans are on and she wants to just melt on the floor next to me. She doesn’t look like she’s in pain it’s like what she does outside in the sun.

I’m just a bit concerned about her - her poops are a little less than usual and her appetite is a little low.

Is this normal? Is she just experiencing heat stress or broodiness?

Thanks so much anything would help

 

[nuthatched]

Sounds like molting.

 

[OrpingtonManiac]

I agree, sounds like shes molting. Its normal, and nothing to worry about. Could we see pictures of her?
Also, what food are you feeding them?

 

[aart]

My hen is 9 months old now and I live in Australia so it’s approaching the 36 degree days (very dry heat).

Seems odd she'd be molting in the middle of summer.
So could be due to heat stress.
Try some electrolytes, recipe I use here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-extreme-weather-spiel.75893/
Not sure the other posters realized your location, might help to add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[FrostRanger]

Birds can molt in summer. I'd feed an all flock with oyster shell on the side if you don't already

 

[TwoLittleDuccleChicks]

Thanks everyone - she's on premium scratch mix which has shells in it mixed with laying pellets as well.

The treats they get are limited but normally consist of meal worms, tomatoes, blueberries, cucumber. My rooster got impacted crop as he was stress eating sand while we were away, we had them on increased protein for two days which was two cooked eggs and (controversial) tiny bits of steak which they love.

She still has heaps of feathers, but I just keep uncovering more feathers in the coop - my rooster went through a similar thing recently I think because of their age. I am just more concerned with her as she hasn't been filling up her crop as much before bedtime (she loves food) and is extremely skittish and co-dependent. My fear is abandonment issues as we left her for 10 days .

She does seem to not do as well as my rooster during hot days she always has her mouth open and is panting, along with watery poops because of how much water she drinks. but honestly, she always has had watery poops (if anyone has tips on that let me know).

We are fortunate enough to have a good avian vet that sees chickens in particular so if she continues this way it might be worth a trip to the vet?

 

[svbergie]

Thanks everyone - she's on premium scratch mix which has shells in it mixed with laying pellets as well.

The treats they get are limited but normally consist of meal worms, tomatoes, blueberries, cucumber. My rooster got impacted crop as he was stress eating sand while we were away, we had them on increased protein for two days which was two cooked eggs and (controversial) tiny bits of steak which they love.

She still has heaps of feathers, but I just keep uncovering more feathers in the coop - my rooster went through a similar thing recently I think because of their age. I am just more concerned with her as she hasn't been filling up her crop as much before bedtime (she loves food) and is extremely skittish and co-dependent. My fear is abandonment issues as we left her for 10 days .

She does seem to not do as well as my rooster during hot days she always has her mouth open and is panting, along with watery poops because of how much water she drinks. but honestly, she always has had watery poops (if anyone has tips on that let me know).

We are fortunate enough to have a good avian vet that sees chickens in particular so if she continues this way it might be worth a trip to the vet?

Hi. I’m in California and our summers get hot too ( not as hot as yours) I make sure my Duccles (I have 3) and the 4 big girls, have electrolytes in their water during summer. I also freeze large water bottles and place them randomly in the run. They seem to play with them, but most importantly walk in the cold water melt. They cool themselves through their feet too so it helps a lot. And no it doesn’t affect their feet feathers much at all. (I’m a first time coop keeper, so if I give bad advise PLEASE let me know so I have good info)

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Not unusual for a chicken to molt without you seeing bald patches, just clouds of feathers. But the pinfeathers can be uncomfortable so they don't feel well. Your chickens need mostly commercial feed, the scratch mix should be considered a treat, as in, a tablespoon per day per chicken. During molt they need much more than the 16% or so of protein to be found in layer feed, and if not laying they don't need the calcium that's in it either. I recommend all-flock formula or feather fixer if you can get it, look for 20% protein at least, and have oyster shell on the side for when laying commences.