moulting birds

[chickenfan]

One or two of my moulting birds seem to have lost a bit of weight. Is this normal?

 

[valeriebutterley]

Hello Chickenfan,
one of my lavender cuckoo Pekins looks like that - terrible!
Last year I was convinced I was going to lose her, head, neck, and other bits completely bare and as thin as can be.
However she kept going, eating, drinking and freeranging to a certain extent. When her feathers grew back she looked like a Frizzle, but in the end she was her beautiful, smooth self, to start the same thing over again a month ago.
I'm sure the weight loss look is due to feather loss.

 

[Marigold]

Yes, in some cases moulting takes quite a lot out of a hen, with the need to grow all those new feathers, especially if it happens fast. Some birds do a partial or an extended moult so the demands are spread and aren't so great, especially as normally they stop laying to compensate. Many hens become overweight anyway as they get older, like us, because they have no need to search far for food and so don't get so much exercise, even if fed a sensible diet. You should be able to feel a clear sharp 'keel' on a bird who is a healthy weight. I was quite surprised once when I took Marigold to my experienced avian vet and he pointed this out saying she was overweight. (Unfortunately it was in her hearing, and she was rather upset...)
I also think Val is right about the change in appearance being due to lack of 'stuffing.' Like when my long haired dog has a bath and looks really tiny when wet!

 

[chickenfan]

Thank you Val and Marigold. It certainly is a pretty awful time for them.