Picky Chicken not laying

[SofisChicken]

I'm not sure I'm understanding.
She usually sits in her nesting box, but she didn't?
Molting birds act off sometimes. Roosting is a normal behavior.

Ahh, okay good to know, thanks!

 

[SofisChicken]

Is she the only chicken you have?

Yes, she is. Why?

 

[aart]

Yes, she is. Why?

Chickens are flock animals and usually do better in a flock.
Other birds will stimulate behaviors, like eating.

 

[SofisChicken]

Chickens are flock animals and usually do better in a flock.
Other birds will stimulate behaviors, like eating.

Hm... I’ve thought about getting another chicken so she won’t be lonely but I don’t know if I’ll be able to handle it.

 

[SofisChicken]

Update:
These are some of them pin feathers in her breast bone area, she’s still not eating too much but a little more every day. she also insists on sleeping with me instead of her coop. her comb and wattle are also a little pale, but she’s still active outside. should i be worried?

 

[Iluveggers]

Update:
These are some of them pin feathers in her breast bone area, she’s still not eating too much but a little more every day. she also insists on sleeping with me instead of her coop. her comb and wattle are also a little pale, but she’s still active outside. should i be worried?

I would guess she likes sleeping with you because she is lonely. Flocks roost together. I know you are worried if you can handle it, but she will probably be less needy if you add a friend for her.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Molting birds often go off their feed. You can direct dose her with poultry vitamins like Poultry Cell every couple of days. Extra protein a few times a week may be helpful as well - a treat of scrambled egg, fish or meat are often welcome.

I hope you don't have allergies. Once those pin feathers start coming on in, those sheaths are going to start to be shed, you'll have a dusty crumbly mess. Chickens like to have a nice dust bathing area outside to clean themselves, preen, etc. this will also take care of the sheaths.

Consider finding a couple of hens to make a flock for her so she can be comfortable outside doing chicken things instead of being stuck inside.

 

[maryn7]

My bird had to be on her own for a week of her molt when her sister passed unexpectedly. Honestly, it was very hard. She did the same thing not wanting to eat, and I had to be out in the run - and it was chilly - if I wanted her to come out of the coop at all. She was super stressed molting AND (my feeling was) she was hiding in the coop because she didn't have another chicken to watch her back while she was in a vulnerable state. So we had to sit in the run for an hour at a time just to get her outside, drinking and maybe eating. To me, she seemed worried to be out in the run without me there.

I'm not going to tell you to get another chicken because you know best what you can handle. I will say, however, I found that my girl was super stressed and a lot MORE work on her own, than she is when she has a friend. So, we brought in a new pullet for her to have as a friend a week later; it didn't help her complete her molt faster, but she seemed more resilient with her new sister there. (And because she was molting and not at 100%, she took to a new flockmate better than I would have thought; she is a grouch.) And, for my part, I didn't have to sit in the run, bored out of my mind, for extended periods each day.

Also, someone recommended a B-vitamin tablet for her when she was really off during her molt. Did great work. When they go off their feed, they can lose out on some vitamins. She was doing a circling drunken walk, super lethargic, wouldn't even eat scrambled egg or cat food - I thought she was done for. But she made it through - and yours will, too.

Good luck!

 

[SofisChicken]

Thanks so much for the help everyone! My girl in now eating till her crop is full, she’s still hesitant to touch her feed but if i mix it with greek yogurt, she runs to eat it! She is still shedding a ton of sheaths, as mentioned above, but we all know that it’s a work in progress! She hasn’t laid any eggs either but it helps me knowing that she is getting the nutrients she requires.