My poor silkie Sooty.

Sooty has lots most of her feathers. But its the wrong time of the year for her to molt. She has no mites. I dont believe Chloe, Meg or Alice, (my  isa browns) have picked on her as there is no trauma to her anywhere. & she is not running away from them. She is covered in new pin feathers so all is well, I just need to keep her warm and have a chat with her about the right time of year for a hard molt.  

Its really cold here now (top temp of only 12c? today. Also foggy today.) I took her out of the pen a few days ago. She is in the laundry keeping warm for now.

It seems she is going through a hard molt, as she is also off the lay which always happens during either a hard or soft molt. but its the wrong time of year & without feathers, there's nothing of her. She'll freeze outside day or night. Even I dont want to go out even with a jacket on.

My poor wittle chook!  
She looks completely disheveled & unloved.   

Poor little chook!

I don't know anything about hens, but a hard moult in the cold weather really doesn't sound right, does it?

Nope. She shouldnt molt for awhile yet. About 2 months till I would expect it.



Im off to the vet with Chilli & Tyson tomorrow morn so I will ask what he thinks could have bought it on so early.

Looks so straggly! If she was in full feather could she withstand very cold weather?

Poor thing! Hope the vet can give you some ideas!

Mine moult in the winter too. Hens are weird.

Caryll wrote:Looks so straggly! If she was in full feather could she withstand very cold weather?

Yes. Shes fine outside in winter. She has a closed coup & hay to keep her warm. But unlike an Isa brown, Silkies like to sit on the ground instead of going up into the coup so she dose need her feathers to protect her from cold, fog or mist. They are about 1/2 the size of a "normal" chook so not much body size to keep the warmth in either.

Poor chook.

Hopefully she'll get her feathers back soon!

Cheers caryll.
She's got pin feathers (new feathers) coming through so she'll be fine in a week or two. Just a weird time for her to molt.

She looks a bit like a Kiwi   

You obviously know a lot about chickens (or chooks ), so I daresay you can cope with whatever they throw at you!

Hope she gets her beautiful feathers back soon!

Yeah, always remember...."Chicken" is what you eat. "Chooks" are what you keep.   
I know a little. I had to learn fast when I got my disheveled girl's. They had many issues in the beginning. Thanks to google & a good vet!  

So....I've been to the vets.

Tyson told him off (ahhh, WOOF, WOOF, GRRRRRR!) when Chilli squealed at the needle.  But thats another story. 

He thinks the same, no reason to molt at this time but suggested when her pins break, put her back out. If she goes bald again within a month it could be a viral infection.

Shisa wrote:She looks a bit like a Kiwi   

She dose actually. But even they have more feathers than her at the moment.  

Interesting fact for those that like chooks.....  
Unlike 99% of chooks & birds. Silkies have 5 toes instead of 4. 

Poor Chilli!

Glad the vet's given you an idea of how to move forward with it! Hopefully whatever it is clears up soon!

I do hope so. Will take a week or two. Then, If not the desired result? Blood tests are next.

Fingers crossed!

Get well and comfy soon Sooty! Poor birdy         

tracyp wrote:I do hope so. Will take a week or two. Then, If not the desired result? Blood tests are next.

I'm sure our furry/feathered friends do it on purpose just to worry us!  

I know they do.  Hey, Jess, pretend your leg is about to drop off ...watch her face... its funny. No, you do it. I dont want to go to the vet thanks.  

Wuahhhhh.        Chooks rule! I think Sooty will be just fine.

I opened the laundry door this morn to check on Sooty, feed her, let her out, clean up etc & Chilli runs in, then plays dead cat...   "I aint looking at looking at you"... let me do the kitty stretch nonchalantly as I try to sneak over for a look & sniff at both you & your food bowl.    (Now Chilli is 1.5 the size of Sooty.) What's this? You have pasta in here for breakfast??? I'll have me some of that then!

NO YOU WONT MISS KITTY! 

Sooty ran over & pecked Chilli on the nose. TAKE THAT KITTY CAT!      
Chilli is now hiding around the corner of the kitchen bench. 

So cat training to be nice to chooks is going quite well.
Chooks 78, Cat 0. 

Poor Chilli!

Sounds like Sooty's not feeling too poorly then!

My chooks always go through a full moult in the depth of winter - I think they're mad!

tracyp wrote:
Sooty ran over & pecked Chilli on the nose. TAKE THAT KITTY CAT!      
Chilli is now hiding around the corner of the kitchen bench. 

So cat training to be nice to chooks is going quite well.
Chooks 78, Cat 0. 

    

Lorraine wrote:My chooks always go through a full moult in the depth of winter - I think they're mad!

I think our pets often reflect their owners' temperaments/characters - don't you?  

Caryll wrote:

Lorraine wrote:My chooks always go through a full moult in the depth of winter - I think they're mad!

I think our pets often reflect their owners' temperaments/characters - don't you?  

Ahem!