one of my Rhodies is losing all of her feathers, molting?

[fornese]

One of my hens is losing all of her feathers. She is also acting quite strange. Walking in a crowched position and standing by herself while the others peck and scratch. She is eatting and drinking but I feel sorry for her. Why is she the only one molting if this is what is happening?
She is 18 months old and a good layer.

 

[Matt A NC]

It sounds like your hen is going through a particularly hard molt. She will look awful and ragged for a few weeks.

To help her you can boost her protein intake, add some blackoil sunflower seeds for fat, and just what ever treats you have.

Don't be surprised if she is just the first. I have a couple houses that look like feather pillows blew in up there.

Some birds go through a lighter molt where only a few feathers are lost and replaces at a time. This process can take ALOT longer, but is not as hard on the hen. No way to know which hen will do what till it happens.

Matt

 

[Jenski]

I don't know that molting would cause a hen to walk or stand in a crouched position. Is she indeed laying on a regular basis? What do you feed? Are her droppings normal?

 

[greyfields]

Right now is prime molt for birds. If you don't have light on them by now, they probably will not keep laying through the winter.