Weird Behaviour

[SKKreativ]

Hi everyone,

I am probably over thinking this but I have noticed one of my hens has changed in her behaviour. She is a white Silkie, I am unsure of her age as I got her as an adult. I have had her for almost a year now (this is my first time being a chicken owner), she is definitely one of my favourites because I could always pick her up and she wouldn't mind. She does have a slight grumpy deminer about her (nothing too serious) and she is always talkative which is normal for her, she is on the very top of the pecking order, so I don't think it is bullying.

It started in the past week, it first started off with her losing a lot of feathers (I checked for mites, no sign of them), it also is Autumn going into cooler weather, so not sure if it is normal to molt around this time? Now she is standoff-ish, quiet and doesn't like me touching her. I can't even pick her up, she runs away and it looks like she has fear in her eyes. Just being around her seems to make her feel very distressed. Besides that she is still eating normal, hanging around the other chickens and pooing normally.

Is it normal to have a chicken suddenly change in their attitude towards their own owner? All the other chickens are acting the same since I have had them.

Kind Regards.

 

[azygous]

Yes, absolutely your hen is now molting and it's completely normal for her to go through this personality change during this period.

The shortening days is what usually triggers molt, although there are occasional outliers that will turn the rules upside down and molt at any old time of year. I have such a hen. She molts in early summer instead of fall as most chickens do. I do not know why.

I have a few very, very affectionate hens that adore being held and cuddled. But during molt, they are grumpy and if I reach for them, they quickly swerve to avoid me. So molt is also hard on us humans as our little friends do not want to have anything to do with us. I know molt is over when these hens begin to demand hugs again.

Beside the hormones causing this irritability, the pin feathers growing in cause considerable discomfort to a chicken if they're handled. Also, a chicken will instinctively avoid contact during this period because a broken pin feather can have serious consequences. They bleed and it's very slow to stop since the feather root has not got the ability to coagulate easily.

So, try to be patient with your hen and know that she will return to her old friendly self once her new outfit is in place.

 

[SKKreativ]

Thank you so much for your response! It definitely has put my mind at rest. I will be sure to not handle her and be patient during this time.

Thanks.