[zoeadh]

She pecks at mash and pellets with little enthusiasm. Even tried stewing the apples and mixing a bit of mash in. Thanks I'll try some sweetcorn as well. Could she be moulting? Can it happen any time of year? We've had her for about 19 months. I thought it would be in the summer.

[helens-hens]

I think it almost sounds like she is moulting but maybe has picked up some sort of infection or something at the same time. Everybody says the moult really takes it out of them and this affects laying which would tie in with some of what is happening with your hen. My hens are in their first year & there has been virtually no feather loss but at 19 months your hen perhaps could be having her first proper moult. Not having seen it yet I don't know much about moulting but from what I have read on this forum it seems it can happen anytime from early autumn through to the winter (poor timing I would say!).