Why is my 1 year 3 month old chickens feathers falling out

[Grorres5576chicken]

I don't know her exact age, but around there

She used to lay eggs almost every day, she also used to free range, it's been 1 great week when she started living in a coop, but now it's been 4 days since she last laid an egg, and her feathers are falling out since that day, she also seems to have a hard time walking and she does not eat very good, and she seems like she misses free range, cause she just lays on the ground since the day her feathers started falling, she is the only one experiencing problems, she lives with 2 other chicken who are both 4 months old, but they are doing great

Sorry if it's hard to understand, I am actually quite worried , but I don't know what to do, don't know any vets anywhere near me that treat chicken

 

[Imp]

At that age and this time of the year. The feather loss sounds like perfectly normal molting.
Egg laying will decrease greatly or cease during molt.
It takes a lot of nutrition for the chicken to regrow feathers, so it is often recommended to increase the protein, in the food.
Catfood or Black Oil Sunflower seeds are mentioned a lot.

I don't know about the lethargy. Any other symptoms? Could she be sunbathing or dust bathing?

If you are looking for a vet try googling "avian vet" in your area.

Imp- Good luck

 

[Grorres5576chicken]

Thank you for the help, no she is no having any other symptoms

 

[Imp]

Thank you for the help, no she is no having any other symptoms

Just an afterthought or two.

Check her feet out closely for any wounds or sores, top & bottom.

Could she be broody?

Imp

 

[Grorres5576chicken]

No she is not broody, and I will check her feet when I clean them, soon, I'll get back to you

 

[azygous]

I'm glad you decided to post on this forum. You have a better chance, now, of getting help.

When you say she's "having trouble walking", do you mean she walks funny or does she have trouble standing and keeping her balance? Does she have a "waddle" when she walks?

Is her belly fat down below her vent? Is it squishy and soft down there or is there a hard lump?

I still believe this is more than simple molt due to her age. And her behavior shouldn't change significantly if she was simply molting.

 

[Grorres5576chicken]

She looks as if one leg is injured, she does waddle, i have not checked that location yet, i will and get back to you, she also is laying on the ground most of the day, with her tail bended down, today she seems better cause she is eating like she used to, but still worries me cause that's the only symptom that is gone for now, Iv been thinking that if this goes on for to long, I might put her to rest, it hurts me to see her in pain, not knowing what's wrong or how to help her, thanks anyways guys for your support, it has helped, hopefully it's minor, but I don't think so, I think its the end, sadly

 

[Grorres5576chicken]

Today she seemed better, her feet look okay (but I'm no expert) she still wobbles, I think she might have hurt herself somehow, she eats better, that's all I can update for now, I'll get back to you tommorrow or someday

 

[azygous]

I'm pleased to hear she's improved some. I'm glad you're keeping us posted.

Don't give up.

Be aware of her body language. Standing around with her tail held down means she doesn't feel well or is in pain. What you want to see is a hen moving around, scratching in the dirt with her tail held erect.

When you view her from behind, do her legs seem to be wider apart than they used to be? When she walks, does she waddle like a duck? Does it seem that her belly is lower to the ground than before?

Have you checked the soles of her feet for swelling, indicating bumble foot? Does she have dimples in between her toes that might have trapped a painful pebble?

Feel up and down her legs and thighs for symmetry. Is there something different about one or the other legs? Is one foot different than the other?

Let's try to find a reason for her not feeling well.

 

[Grorres5576chicken]

Good news and bad news, today she seems even better, she walks more and her tail is erect most of the time, bad news : she seems very skinny, I can feel her bones, and the part where chicken store food, is empty
She is still loosing feathers, maybe she always has been that skinny
Her legs seem to be in the same location
She waddles more like a human who got hit by something heavy in the right foot
Her belly looks the same high as it used to be
The soles of her feet look ok to me
Both feet seem the same