This doesn't look like moulting to me--terrible

[Crooked Chicken]

Here is a good article about molting:
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2011/12/molting-what-is-it-and-how-to-help.html

Wonderful article - thank you! This will help when the time comes.

 

[micstrachan]

Oh my! Poor baby! Yes, totally agree that’s a hard molt. She’ll be ok. Just support her with a little extra protein and don’t handle her, if possible. How cold is it where you live these nights?

 

[micstrachan]

I went to work one day and Dusty looked like this when I left:

View attachment 1164852

And like this when I got home:

View attachment 1164853

It was my first experience with a hard moult and when I saw her and all the feathers everywhere I rushed over and picked her up, thinking she had been hurt or attacked .. big mistake! She was not impressed with being picked up at all poor baby .. lesson learnt

View attachment 1164855

OMG! This made me giggle out loud. SO MEAN! Poor thing. That must have been quite a shock for you!

 

[getaclue]

Try feeding her some cheap cat food, or mackerel as a treat for a little while. The extra protein helps them regrow the feathers a little quicker, and easier.

 

[Sunshine Flock]

I'm hard molting, too. I should enter myself in the molting contest. I'd win hands down.

 

[MsBrahma]

I don't think she has laid an egg in a while. None of them are doing much laying. Getting older, I guess, and these are bred to lay themselves out early. I felt of her last night, but nothing was definite and she REALLY hated being handled. She must be uncomfortable all over, in addition to never being willing to let us touch her. I will just keep an eye on her, I guess. She still eats and moves around, if slowly. She did eat some of the egg, and we ran interference so she got to eat in peace.

 

[MsBrahma]

Blackie is starting to look better, featherwise, and has not laid an egg but appears unchanged in that regard. We did have one experience with an egg-bound hen, who recovered after TLC, so I am watching for those behaviors. Fingers crossed! Thanks to everyone for your helpful comments.