personality change

[TomG]

My Barred rock's attitude has changed for the worse. She is my only chicken that has stopped laying during the short days. She stopped squatting, pecks more at the other hens and keeps her distance from me. She use to be my friendliest girl. I use to be able to pick her up and pet her. Now she screams bloody murder if I try.
Will her temperment improve as the days get longer and she starts to lay again? Or is her behavior not related to laying/day length? She appears healthy and fat and has no bugs. She is eight months old.

 

[Pinky]

Do you have a rooster with your hens?

 

[TomG]

Quote:
No, no roosters. I was just out in the coop though and I noticed allot of her downy type featers scattered about. I think she has started to moult.

 

[Pinky]

With no rooster around, she could be taking on that role. I have heard on this site that sometimes a dominate hen that has no roo will take his place. It may be that the molt is stressing her if she is molting

 

[BarkerChickens]

We have a few hens that are like that when they molt and aren't laying. Then, in spring, all of a sudden the nice part of the brain starts to function again.

 

[they'reHISchickens]

Since molting is a hormonal phenomena, it's only natural that some hens will change personality when molting.
"Sorry, dear, it's that time of the year."

 

[TomG]

they'reHISchickens :

Since molting is a hormonal phenomena, it's only natural that some hens will change personality when molting.
"Sorry, dear, it's that time of the year."

Pre molting syndrom?​

 

[they'reHISchickens]

uh huh
We have noticed a tendency to sulk just before the feathers fly. They curl up in a nest and don't leave it. They especially sleep in the nest at night-- dead giveaway of molt in our coop.
PMS
Just pamper the girls with BOSS and hi-protein snacks and pray it passes sooner rather than later.