How to tell is it’s molting or something else?

[Dynamissa]

My girl EE pullet ( 38 weeks) stopped laying a couple weeks back and started dropping feathers. Couldn’t see where they were coming from, no Bald spots or anything but she had m feathers under her in the coop and I found them periodically through the run. Then I noticed she looked cold during our coldest days so far this winter (-5), not moving much, puffed up, more timid with me and the others than usual, unwilling to stand up for herself for food etc She also wasn’t eating like she used to. We rook her inside for the coldest days per farm vet recommendation and she’s been out since. Saw her eat drink poop everything is normal but she’s still looking blah. She does have pin feathers on her bum under the fluff and some elsewhere and I see her still dropping feathers. She’s been returned to the run for a week now. That’s all fine.

When does the blah behavior stop with molting? When the feathers are fully in? I just want to be sure I’m not missing anything. She still flies
To perch on my shoulder when I enter the run and scratches around, even had some food in her crop before and tonight, but she steps so gingerly and avoids the others and sometimes just looks fluffed up with her head pulled in. I want to be sure this is normal and how long I have to worry about it. It SEEMS like it’s normal from what I’ve read here but I’m anxious.

Early morning photo attached, just .after exiting the coop. She got more active as the day went on.

 

[21hens-incharge]

It sounds like she is "slow molting" so it takes time. A fast molt has birds going from looking ok to ready for the pot naked pretty darn quickly. A slow molt is a few feathers at a time and not looking naked.

I have had slow molting birds take 2+ months to get back to normal. I have had a leghorn do a fast molt in January with lows hitting -16.

You can try offering her high protein treats to give her a boost. Canned fish or canned cat food given a couple times a week seems to help my molting birds.

 

[Dynamissa]

So this does sound like molting behavior? She’s only 8 months and I’ve read they can do a second juvie molt at this age?

 

[21hens-incharge]

I must have missed that she is not even a year old yet.

A mini molt...perhaps but full molting doesn't happen until over a year old.

What is their normal feeds protein level?
What brand of feed?

 

[Dynamissa]

They have a mix of 16% layer and 20% all flock… i started mixing in the all flock when i saw she stopped laying and dropping feathers.

The layer is nutrena and the all flock is Kalmbach. There’s oyster shell and grit available.

She’s the bottom of the pecking order but I have 7 places for 5 birds to get food.

 

[21hens-incharge]

It looks like a decent quality feed and good protein %'s.

Some birds just don't do winter well. At this point I would just monitor her behavior and perhaps weigh her once a week to make sure she isn't losing weight.

 

[Dynamissa]

It looks like a decent quality feed and good protein %'s.

Some birds just don't do winter well. At this point I would just monitor her behavior and perhaps weigh her once a week to make sure she isn't losing weight.

She’s definitely not acting herself but her poop Is well formed, there just isn’t a lot of it as she isn’t eating much. She’ll eat treats but the layer is not interesting at all to her unless I hold it in my hand. Not wetted either.

Ugh this is nerve wracking.

Should I take her inside or something if she looks too off?

 

[Dynamissa]

She seems to still want to fly up onto my arm and she can do it… so sometimes she doesn’t look all huddled and sad. This looks pretty typical of her when she’s feeling good, taken an hour or so ago.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Are any of your birds actively laying?

If not than maybe just use the all flock as the protein is higher and calcium is lower.

I am not a fan of bringing birds inside for a few reasons.
1. Sanitation and good grief the dusty dander they create.
2. The temperature change for them can be harsh both coming in and going back to the coop.
3. Loss of rank in the pecking order.

 

[Dynamissa]

Are any of your birds actively laying?

If not than maybe just use the all flock as the protein is higher and calcium is lower.

I am not a fan of bringing birds inside for a few reasons.
1. Sanitation and good grief the dusty dander they create.
2. The temperature change for them can be harsh both coming in and going back to the coop.
3. Loss of rank in the pecking order.

All the others are still laying. Regularly. She stopped about 2 weeks back when the temps got below zero. They’re in the 20s and 30s now though. And she still dropping feathers. See some pin feathers in there coming through.

And yeah I get that.