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

[MsBrahma]

This black sexlink, about 3 years old, in a few days lost most of her feathers. She looks plucked over most of her body. I don't think this could be moulting. I am concerned that she is sick or dying. She still eats, but she sort of moves in slow motion, as if disoriented. Sometimes she walks clumsily. Has anyone seen this sort of thing? The rest of our flock is still as healthy as ever. We don't have a rooster, and the other hens are not beating up on her. Any feedback would be appreciated; thank you!

 

[Chickassan]

I think it's a hard molt. They act kind of out of it and move funny when they go through it because they don't feel good and are uncomfortable. You should enter her in the molting contest going on here.

 

[21hens-incharge]

She does look awful. Poor thing looks a lot like my old Leghorn did in a horribly hard molt.

Are there pin feathers coming in? Are you giving her any kind of a protein boost?

I give mine canned mackerel, scrambled eggs or hard boiled and chopped as well as very small amounts of raw hamburger during molting.

 

[BantyChooks]

Yep, just a real hard molt. Poor lady.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I agree with the others - the poor dear is molting.
They just don't feel well during this time and can seem to be "off".
You can add some poultry vitamins to her water a couple of days a week.
Offering extra protein like @21hens-incharge suggested won't hurt either. One of my girls suffers terribly during molt, she doesn't eat very well and is just miserable acting - I give her a little chopped egg every day.

 

[Teila]

Hi there MsBrahma

Yep, I agree with the other posters in that the poor little gal is going through a hard moult and also that she can feel a bit ‘off’ during this time. Great tips on extra protein treats also.

I just wanted to add that when the pin feathers are coming through they are very sensitive and my gal Dusty, who also has some scary hard moults, does not even like to be in the wind and spends quite a bit of time ‘hiding’ under the coop and roosting a short distance away from the rest of the flock at night because she is tender; so, no picking her up unless absolutely necessary and no cuddles

This is a link to the Moult Competition, you should definitely enter her https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...st-your-best-worst-chicken-molt-pics.1197023/

 

[Crooked Chicken]

Glad I saw this. I haven't experienced a hard molt yet, and now really not looking forward to it. Poor babies. At least I now know they will feel as bad as they look. Of course, I'll probably post to ask what is wrong with them.

I hope your girl gets through the molt quickly.

 

[chickendreams24]

I have a girl Pebbles that is also going through a hard molt. Just waiting until the pin feathers start coming in and she looks like a cross between a porcupine and a pin cushion. It's really terrible.

I feel so bad for my Pebbles. Its so true she is normally a very people oriented chicken(EE) and flies up to my arm for special treats and cuddles etc. But when she's molting she hides she doesn't run for treats anything. She is so miserable.

One thing if you plan to breed or hatch chicks they say hens that molt quickly are better layers than hens that drop only a couple of father's at a time.

Last year Pebbles layed all through yet molt. This year she's taking off and I'm glad bc she has lost quite a bit of weight even with all the treats and everything. We've had some chilly days and nights here in southern WI and I've been thinking about bringing her into the porch a few times bc she was so very naked.

I wish I had snapped a pic of it bc it has been the worst molt I've ever seen I think.

 

[Teila]

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

And like this when I got home:

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

 

[chickendreams24]

Yeah they sure can shoot some dirty looks when molting can't they?! Lol We put a saddle on Pebbles just in case the roos got any ideas and I swear she was still cursing at me three days later. But she was completely naked I had to be sure she was safe. I felt so bad bc I knew the saddle was uncomfortable and could even hurt but I didn't want all the pin feathers to get picked or rupture.