A few weeks ago I posted that Clarice (age 8, barred Rock alpha hen) appeared to be moulting AGAIN after just having been through a hard molt in late July. No one responded so I figured maybe I didn't need to worry about it.
But now I kind of am. She's lost a lot of feathers, and has been acting EXACTLY how she acts when she's moulting--stopped laying (after starting back up following the July moult), refusing to come down from the high roosts or leave the coop unless I make her, seeming generally even more cranky than normal, etc. Then last night I saw that she was on a LOWER roost. That is really not like her. I was able to pick her up and move her to another roost--again, VERY abnormal, as she has NEVER, EVER let me touch her (she's basically a wild chicken). I've never tried at night like that before, but in the a.m. when I make them go outside (b/c in moult Clarice won't go, which means that no one ELSE will, either, LOL), I can lift Svetlana down and put her out the hole but if I just move towards Clarice she flies off the roost in hysterics and runs for the door.
So I was REALLY worried. I got the carrier all ready and this a.m. I went in, put the young 'uns out, and reached up for Clarice. I got my hands on her but then she freaked and got away from me. She ran outside and went to pecking around for the oats I had tossed out just like normal.
????? Should I worry? Should I catch her no matter what it takes to get her to the vet, or should I assume that if I can't catch her, she must be OK?
And has anyone EVER had a chicken moult 2x in 3 mos?? No one answered that before and I need to know if there is a non-disease reason possible for this!
Thanks!
But now I kind of am. She's lost a lot of feathers, and has been acting EXACTLY how she acts when she's moulting--stopped laying (after starting back up following the July moult), refusing to come down from the high roosts or leave the coop unless I make her, seeming generally even more cranky than normal, etc. Then last night I saw that she was on a LOWER roost. That is really not like her. I was able to pick her up and move her to another roost--again, VERY abnormal, as she has NEVER, EVER let me touch her (she's basically a wild chicken). I've never tried at night like that before, but in the a.m. when I make them go outside (b/c in moult Clarice won't go, which means that no one ELSE will, either, LOL), I can lift Svetlana down and put her out the hole but if I just move towards Clarice she flies off the roost in hysterics and runs for the door.
So I was REALLY worried. I got the carrier all ready and this a.m. I went in, put the young 'uns out, and reached up for Clarice. I got my hands on her but then she freaked and got away from me. She ran outside and went to pecking around for the oats I had tossed out just like normal.
????? Should I worry? Should I catch her no matter what it takes to get her to the vet, or should I assume that if I can't catch her, she must be OK?
And has anyone EVER had a chicken moult 2x in 3 mos?? No one answered that before and I need to know if there is a non-disease reason possible for this!
Thanks!
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