Neither of my two ~15 month old Ameraucanas has laid any eggs in a few weeks. I assume that's because of the season (moulting). However, I have recently become aware that one of them just stays in the coop all the time. I don't know if she is ever coming out for food or drink. She doesn't appear sick. If I take her out, she makes a dash back to the coop and - when I block it - she veers into some nearby bushes and hides there. I don't believe she is broody - she isn't behaving broody and isn't sitting in the nest boxes but on one of the perches in the coop. I can see no evidence that she is being bullied by the other hens in the flock, but she is acting so strangely. Any ideas? Thanks.
Molting can be quite uncomfortable, mine sometimes will hide for a few weeks, it seems it's as the new feathers are emerging, any touching I'm sure hurts, mine eventually went back outside after their feathers grew back.
x2 My poor Gladys and Mathilda seem to be suffering the most. Those feathers hurt when they are coming back in all bristly and they just don't want to be touched - even in passing. So they each have a spot on the roost and they are pretty much hanging out up there after they eat and get a drink.
I've witnessed the isolating and increased lounging/resting during the day with molting birds. Might want to increase their protein during the molt.
