poorly Speckledy hen

[jennybain]

can anyone give me some advice about my poor Speckledy hen? I have had her since last summer, so I reckon she must be about 10 months old and bought her along with another the same age. The thing is, she hasn't developed very well, is considerably lighter in weight than the other one and had pretty much non-existent comb and wattle. She has, however, laid pretty well all autumn until she went broody shortly before Christmas.
She was broody for a long time but now seems to be better, but over the past few days she has begun to moult I think. Is this possible? I have read that this is far too young for her first moult.

I just wondered if there was a reason for her not to be developing like the others have ( I have 5 in total). She looks like a juvenile since there is no comb or wattle. Should I be concerned? Apart from this, she is eating and roaming in the garden as normal.

[MaureenHall]

She is a bit young for a moult, but it's not impossible What breed is she? Some breeds don't have huge combs and wattles, and as the combs are used to keep them cool by dissipating heat, all the combs on my hens have shrunk considerably lately. She's probably a bit run down too after being broody, but if she's eating and drinking ok and her poo looks normal then I wouldn't worry too much. Has she been wormed recently? Worms can drag a chook down, so if she hasn't been done, then I'd do that. I'd also add some poultry spice to the food to give them a bit of a boost too. The cold weather recently hasn't done the chooks any favours has it

[jennybain]

Hi - she is a Rhode Island Red x Maran. The thing is, the other same breed one which is the same age as her has a lovely big red comb and wattle and has plumped up nicely.

They were all wormed before it got really cold, but maybe I should do it again. Thanks for the reassurance!

[Flummery]

One of my 4 hybrids, all just a few weeks over a year old now, moulted partially though the others didn't - I can't imagine how many feathers there'll be when they all moult fully! She might need a bit of a protein boost. Cat food can help - maybe fish flavour would be more tactful than chicken!

[jennybain]

She is definitely moulting as I just had a good feel under her feathers and she feels like a porcupine. So hopefully she will pick up soon.
Maybe she got too stressed out after her broodiness and this triggered an early moult.

Now all she needs to do is grow a proper comb and wattle and she'll look like a real chicken!

[Polly Fouracre]

I have two Speckldies about four years old. One, Bright, has a large comb and wattles while the other,Dim, has very small ones. They are both healthy and lay very well for their age. The moult doesn't last long and you can give them Poultry Spice and treat them with tasty tit-bits to help them along.

[MrsC]

One of my 4 hybrids, all just a few weeks over a year old now, moulted partially though the others didn't - I can't imagine how many feathers there'll be when they all moult fully! She might need a bit of a protein boost. Cat food can help - maybe fish flavour would be more tactful than chicken!

Didn't realise about the cat food, thanks Flum, will bear that in mind for my girls!