What's wrong with my buddy Speedy?

[amateurJac]

My once fluffy, healthy-looking girl, Speedy looks dirty, haggard and thin all of a suddon. Over the past few days, the feathers around her head and neck have disappear and she just looks dirty and sad. Still has a lot of energy but I am worried about her. Anyone know what might be up? None of my other chickens are molting so seems unlikely that would be the case. Could she be sick or getting pickle on?

 

[Free Spirit]

If she seems otherwise happy and healthy I'd say molt.

I'm going through a mini molt one hen at a time. My first one started and had me worried for a bit because a lot of threads say that they typically don't do that their first year and she was the only one that looked ragged. But it seems confined to mainly the shoulders/neck/head area. Once my first hen got her feathers back then next one started. Once she got all her feathers back another started. All are cochin bantams about 9 months old. I have 4 so that means one more to go (maybe) and none of the 4 have been laying for almost two months now. I have 3 larger hens that have not molted only two of the three are laying.


Your hen is still very pretty. I love her color.

 

[Michael OShay]

Welcome to BYC. Glad you decided to join our flock. I agree with Free Spirit; Speedy appears to be going through a molt. If you haven't done so already, definitely check out our Learning Center at https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center. There is lots of useful information there. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. Cheers.

 

[sunflour]

glad you have joined us.

I agree, likely a molt if she is acting and eating normally.

To make sure, examine her to see new pins coming in - a sure sign of a molt.

 

[drumstick diva]

When chickens are molting they can benefit from some extra protein.

 

[N F C]

Looks like molting to me too, they can get pretty sad looking while that's going on. My girl's behavior seems to change some too during molt...they don't seem to want anyone or anything touching them and can get rather short-tempered with their flock mates.

This is an interesting article from the Learning Center, all about molting:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/what-happens-when-chickens-molt

Thanks for joining us, hope Speedy is back to her usual beautiful self before long!

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

 

[trailrider330]

If she seems otherwise happy and healthy I'd say molt.

I'm going through a mini molt one hen at a time. My first one started and had me worried for a bit because a lot of threads say that they typically don't do that their first year and she was the only one that looked ragged. But it seems confined to mainly the shoulders/neck/head area. Once my first hen got her feathers back then next one started. Once she got all her feathers back another started. All are cochin bantams about 9 months old. I have 4 so that means one more to go (maybe) and none of the 4 have been laying for almost two months now. I have 3 larger hens that have not molted only two of the three are laying.


Your hen is still very pretty. I love her color.

x2

 

[amateurJac]

Thank you all SO MUCH for your feedback. She does seem energetic and happy so it must be a molt. So odd that she is the only one, but I am very encouraged by all of your input.

 

[Michael OShay]

Thank you all SO MUCH for your feedback. She does seem energetic and happy so it must be a molt. So odd that she is the only one, but I am very encouraged by all of your input.

You're welcome.