Hello everyone, Advance apologies for the lengthy post but need some suggestions. We have a 6 -7 month old Easter Egger who stopped laying abruptly 5 weeks ago when the furnace turned on and kicked up to the 90s every day with triple digit heat indexes. Ten days ago we suddenly lost a chicken - (suspect Marek's per vet showed neurological issues and failed quickly) and the remaining solo hen, Rosie, was distraught as a loner for days, so we added two new pullets 6 days ago. Both are 3 months old, one is a Golden Comet and the other a Cinnamon Queen.
I read up on molting and she is not losing feathers from her head or neck, or down her body, just various places and types of feathers. I've read where a true molt does not occur until a hen is 16-18 months old and doesn't start until late summer or early fall, so this is way early for a true molt. She started losing feathers a couple days ago and preens constantly.
Due to the age difference of 3-4 months and size variation with the pullets, could it be the sudden stress of the loss of her best bud and now 2 young newbies causing this? We do not have the resources or space to create two separate areas for the no touch, talk or contact method pre-integration that many folks use. Others told us just to add the pullets to her run and integrate right away and they'll work it out. All has gone pretty well thus far but I can't figure out why the feather loss. There is no bullying going on and she keeps things peaceful with exception of the Golden Comet who never shuts up. She clucks constantly, literally, while eating, while drinking, while perching, while sand bathing, all the time. It was once a quiet peaceful place but is now constant noise. Could this create stress for her?
We were told the red sex links were calm, quiet, friendly, docile breeds and perfect for small city yards which is why we chose her. She is anything but. Do we just have an anomaly one off? Having a hard time figuring out what's going on to cause Rosie, the EE, to lose feathers. Could it be the heat? We use a fan that runs all day, provide clean cool water several times a day, include a frozen cooler pack in the run and in the water, they are in as much shade as possible and have tarps to block the sun.
The coop is an Omlet with currently 27 square feet. We will be increasing the run by an additional 108 square feet but it won't be ready for another couple of weeks. That will give them all more than enough space which hopefully will help with the ambiance and quiet things down, unless the comet is always going to be noisy.
The diet consists of Kalmbach layer feed. Should we add some grower feed to this? - reading this could help with molting or feather loss? I know the pullets will molt as their new feathers come in, but these are definitely hers as I watched her preen for half and hour and feathers of all sizes were flying. Thanks for any comments or suggestions.
Figuring this all out as we go........no better way to learn, other than from all you fine folks.
I read up on molting and she is not losing feathers from her head or neck, or down her body, just various places and types of feathers. I've read where a true molt does not occur until a hen is 16-18 months old and doesn't start until late summer or early fall, so this is way early for a true molt. She started losing feathers a couple days ago and preens constantly.
Due to the age difference of 3-4 months and size variation with the pullets, could it be the sudden stress of the loss of her best bud and now 2 young newbies causing this? We do not have the resources or space to create two separate areas for the no touch, talk or contact method pre-integration that many folks use. Others told us just to add the pullets to her run and integrate right away and they'll work it out. All has gone pretty well thus far but I can't figure out why the feather loss. There is no bullying going on and she keeps things peaceful with exception of the Golden Comet who never shuts up. She clucks constantly, literally, while eating, while drinking, while perching, while sand bathing, all the time. It was once a quiet peaceful place but is now constant noise. Could this create stress for her?
We were told the red sex links were calm, quiet, friendly, docile breeds and perfect for small city yards which is why we chose her. She is anything but. Do we just have an anomaly one off? Having a hard time figuring out what's going on to cause Rosie, the EE, to lose feathers. Could it be the heat? We use a fan that runs all day, provide clean cool water several times a day, include a frozen cooler pack in the run and in the water, they are in as much shade as possible and have tarps to block the sun.
The coop is an Omlet with currently 27 square feet. We will be increasing the run by an additional 108 square feet but it won't be ready for another couple of weeks. That will give them all more than enough space which hopefully will help with the ambiance and quiet things down, unless the comet is always going to be noisy.
The diet consists of Kalmbach layer feed. Should we add some grower feed to this? - reading this could help with molting or feather loss? I know the pullets will molt as their new feathers come in, but these are definitely hers as I watched her preen for half and hour and feathers of all sizes were flying. Thanks for any comments or suggestions.
Figuring this all out as we go........no better way to learn, other than from all you fine folks.
