Previously broody pullet now molting

[PrincessChicky]

Hello all,

I need a little reassurance here. My previously broody pullet was broody for the full 3 weeks, if not a little longer and just came out of that in the last 10 days or so.

Now she's decided to lose all her feathers. Normally I wouldn't care but doesn't DECEMBER seem like a stupid time to get naked? She has big bald spots all over and there are feathers **everywhere**. I'm sure I can't stop this from happening but is it normal to molt after being broody? She didn't lose a single feather while broody but after it is like she exploded all over the yard and coop.

She's going to need a sweater if she keeps this up. This doesn't seem like an evolutionarily intelligent behavior and it just doesn't make sense to me! Can you help?

 

[willowbranchfarm]

My chickens are molting now too. I don't worry about them because they huddle up and keep warm. Chickens will molt when stressed out so maybe that's why she decided to molt after being broody.

 

[mrsc1951]

My little bantam EE did the same thing. Well almost. I took the eggs away after a few days because I don't have a roo then in just a couple of days there were little red feathers all over the yard and coop. I just up their protein intake a bit while molting and they do fine. I agree that the winter isn't the best time to shed one's "clothes" but chichens have been doing it that way for a lot longer than I've been raising them so who's to argue with Mother Nature?

 

[chickentender8]

My EE did the same thing. She was broody so I put her in a broody cage for a few days, that got her to stop being broody, then a week later it looked like a chicken exploded in the pen! There were feathers everywhere! She is starting to look better, but my other hens are still picking on her. I am wondering if it because she looks different, and maybe her horomones are out of whack. I don't know I am just glad her feathers are growing back!!!