Sick Hen I think

[Davidtwotractor]

I am in Michigan and this is my first winter and the first sign of any health issues with my flock of 12.Here are 2 Comet Hens, They are 10 months old. The one on the rights a comb that is pink and the feathers are kinda splotchy. Also is is smaller then the rest The one on the left is what the other Hens look like. Dark red comb and much more body mass. I was out there observing and saw another pecking at it. Any ideas please
David

 

[Dottie the Chicken]

How old are they? She's probably just molting. They can loose weight while molting, and their combs can look less healthy.

 

[Davidtwotractor]

How old are they? She's probably just molting. They can loose weight while molting, and their combs can look less healthy.

10 months first winter and the only one like it of the group

 

[Dottie the Chicken]

@aart - it's still possible she could be molting, correct?

10 months first winter and the only one like it of the group

Have you seen a lot of feather picking, or just that one instance?

 

[Davidtwotractor]

was just out there giving them some scratch and she was being a little aggressive then she went away by herself while the others were pecking at the scratch, she seems to be a loner

 

[Allthefloofs]

was just out there giving them some scratch and she was being a little aggressive then she went away by herself while the others were pecking at the scratch, she seems to be a loner

Our chickens act like that when they molt. They lose weight and become angry and they separate themselves. I get scared every year that my sweet girls aren’t going to be sweet anymore but every spring they return to their regularly scheduled snuggles. In guess she could be molting?

 

[Davidtwotractor]

Our chickens act like that when they molt. They lose weight and become angry and they separate themselves. I get scared every year that my sweet girls aren’t going to be sweet anymore but every spring they return to their regularly scheduled snuggles. In guess she could be molting?

That describes it to the tee. What threw me off was she is the only one of them being the same age, i have looked at a bunch of molting pictures and they look similar. i will keep and eye on her. thanks

 

[Allthefloofs]

Sure, I know they sometimes throw me for a loop. We have one girl that was born at the same time as two others and they fully molted, like naked chicken molted in October and November and she hasn't yet. I have no clue why. She laid through their molt and still has her ratty feathers . I sympathize with anyone who is trying to figure out why one chicken doesn't do what the other do for sure!

 

[HKG]

Do both of the hens in the picture lay?

 

[aart]

@aart - it's still possible she could be molting, correct?

Yes.
Chickens molt and grow a new set of feathers 2-3 times before around 6 months of age, those are called the juvenile molts.
Some pullets will have a partial molt their first fall/winter.
Most birds will have their first full adult molt their second fall/winter.