Extensive Feather Loss in 4 year old Bird

[JerryC999]

This poor thing has lost all these feathers over about two weeks. She has been acting normally until this morning, when she seems a bit sluggish. I think at her age she is done laying. I am now afraid she will not recover in time for upcoming cold nights. I have not witnessed any pecking from others, and she does not look wounded. Seems way beyond molting now. What do I have here?

 

[chickens really]

Probably a really hard molt. She is blowing lots of feathers or you might have a parasite issue too?

 

[Eggcessive]

I have a lot of chickens molting right now, and it appears that her feathers are coming back in, so she will be fine. Make sure that is getting some extra protein, such as egg or tuna, sunflower seeds.

 

[coach723]

I have a lot molting right now too, some look similar to yours. She will probably be fine, just make sure she's eating and drinking well, and up the protein as previously suggested. There are some pictures here of some birds going through a hard molt:
https://www.wideopenpets.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-molting-chickens/

 

[JerryC999]

Oh, good! Thanks all. Compared to those pictures, my girl is not doing so badly. Sunflower seeds and boiled egg it is. Have lots of dried worms as well.

 

[glassdragonfly]

Poor girl! You could put a rooster saddle on her to help with cold nights. I have done that just to help them in the wind and cold. I make sure to change it out if it gets wet.

 

[JerryC999]

I may just have to get out one of the heat lamps early.