Snowy Posted December 12, 2007 Share Posted December 12, 2007 My two oldest hens Bertha () and Beryl () have just undergone a very dramatic moult. Especially Beryl whose feathers all seemed to fall off at once! They are beautifully feathered again now so I thought I'd post some pics of during and after the moult. The first pictures were taken on 21st October and the last yesterday 11th December, so about 8 weeks from start to finish. Beryl Bertha New coats for christmas Bertha has always looked lovely and fluffy, but ever since I got her in summer Beryl has looked half feathered. She looks gorgeous now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted December 12, 2007 Share Posted December 12, 2007 blimey, the top photo of Beryl is Ella had a moult this autumn but it was nothing like that. Looking very now though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted December 12, 2007 Share Posted December 12, 2007 Wow, that's a dramatic moult . So much so that Beryl seems to have moulted one of her legs in the top picture . Hope it grew back . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted December 12, 2007 Author Share Posted December 12, 2007 Wow, that's a dramatic moult . So much so that Beryl seems to have moulted one of her legs in the top picture . Hope it grew back . I think it must've done - not seen her fall over yet anyway! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 12, 2007 Share Posted December 12, 2007 Wow, that's a dramatic moult . So much so that Beryl seems to have moulted one of her legs in the top picture . Hope it grew back . pml Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted December 12, 2007 Share Posted December 12, 2007 pml Err, what's "pml"? . (It's a whole new language, this forum-speak !) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 12, 2007 Share Posted December 12, 2007 'ang on a mo, fink it might be pmsl! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted December 12, 2007 Share Posted December 12, 2007 Oh no, I feel like an elderly aunt who has no idea what the "youngsters" are talking about . What's "pmsl" when it's at home? (Is it rude? I do hope so .) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 12, 2007 Share Posted December 12, 2007 p'ing meself larfing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 12, 2007 Share Posted December 12, 2007 why does rudolph appear to be vomiting fairy lights btw? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted December 12, 2007 Share Posted December 12, 2007 I was thinking it might be something along those lines (knowing you, Poet ). why does rudolph appear to be vomiting fairy lights btw? PMSL too How dare you, they're tastefully draped round his neck (I think ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 12, 2007 Share Posted December 12, 2007 I fink it was the duchess who told me what it meant originally, blame her! course, it could've been someone else and I could be casting nastursions! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 13, 2007 Share Posted December 13, 2007 Oh no, I feel like an elderly aunt who has no idea what the "youngsters" are talking about . What's "pmsl" when it's at home? (Is it rude? I do hope so .) It's not terribly polite! Mine have all moulted to varying degrees.....but none as spectacularly as Beryl! The new quills are a bit aren't they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheilaz Posted December 13, 2007 Share Posted December 13, 2007 Fantastic examples Snowy, thanks for posting those pics. My eldest had the same as your but all over, including the head. It would be a terrible shock to anyone not familiar with moulting. I didn't want anyone to see my 5 heavy moulters, they looked like severe neglect cases but it was just nature. I have been giving extra protein & tonic & they'll be through it soon. I also had one with just ahead moult, sometimes it's been just the chest in a partial moult. Great photos though. I thought of doing it but seem to have a problem with cameras & computers, I'm so glad you have shown us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted December 13, 2007 Share Posted December 13, 2007 Good photos Snowy - poor wee lassies. they look lovely now though in their new winter collections. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goosey Lucy Posted December 13, 2007 Share Posted December 13, 2007 Excellent photos and very helpful for us newbies who still have this to come. Any chance of a kindly mod type person putting them in a sticky about moulting? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovemychooks Posted December 13, 2007 Share Posted December 13, 2007 Ahhh bless 'em !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Treekeeper Posted December 14, 2007 Share Posted December 14, 2007 What age do they start doing that and how many times a year? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted December 14, 2007 Share Posted December 14, 2007 Steve, it depends on when they are hatched. They wil do several moults and feather replacements after they are hatched and when they are growing their adult feathers. If they hatch early in the year, then you might get a partial moult that autumn; birds hatched a bit later (say May onwards) will probably not moult that winter and are likely to lay all through the winter months (well, at least that's what my pure-breeds do, hybrids usually lay right through any way). You can expect an adult bird to moult every autumn, usually starting around September, although there will be exceptions to this rule as our girlies always want to be special They will start by looking a bit pale and under the weather and will stop laying - nothing you can really put your finger on really. Last year all mine stopped laying within days of each other, it was so abrupt that I thought that someone was stealing the eggs! Then your garden will start to look like an exploded duvet! Some girls will moult less than others, some will go for the oven ready look. They will need extra care at this time; they won't need layers pellets so much as they aren't laying, so mix them 50/50 with chick crumbs, which are high in protein and help to make new feathers. Add some poultry spice to their feed, or the tonic to their water and make sure that they get loads of vegetables too. It's good for them to stop laying and rest their lady-bits for a while, as they aren't laying it's also a good time to dose them with wormer and anti-lice preps as you won't need to bother with egg withdrawl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted December 15, 2007 Share Posted December 15, 2007 Thought I'd share my Abbie pictures as she started on the 30th November. The pictures don't do her justice, she looks scrawny and pitiful at the moment. Katy has joined in too and only has 2 tail feathers, but is fluffed up. They cower in the run a lot. Megan is smug as she is just growing back the final feathers and looks gorgeous. She goes dashing/flying as soon as you open the door to the run. They all lose feathers when they shake. Megan during moult without tail, and with tail and beautiful golden feathers after moult (back chicken) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted December 15, 2007 Share Posted December 15, 2007 Wow - thanks for posting all the pics. I've never had a girl moult quite as drastically as that, especially Beryl. Georgie moults quite badly every autumn, but its around her neck that it is obvious; she goes really scraggy. she gets a bit depressed as well. The only thing I give them extra is spice which I add to their food. The moults seem to me to get worse each year as they get older - but that may just be my girls and not a general experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted December 15, 2007 Share Posted December 15, 2007 thank you for posting these pictures, came down this morning and found the eglu full of feathers, it looked like someone had opened a pillow and threw it around a bit, saw Splodge looking really scrawny and very sorry for herself. we think she is moulting (perfect timing, she chose this on the coldest day of the year, ) put some cat food out for the chooks and she ran over to it and dived right in - she must know that it will do her good. cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted December 15, 2007 Share Posted December 15, 2007 came down this morning and found the eglu full of feathers, it looked like someone had opened a pillow and threw it around a bit, saw Splodge looking really scrawny and very sorry for herself. we think she is moulting (perfect timing, she chose this on the coldest day of the year, ) What are they thinking at this time of year?! Abbie has been perched body close to her feet with her head down against her body looking sorry for herself too. I boiled some eggs for them, and fed some mealworms (got an excited sqeaking from Abbie). What's strange is there are more large Katy feathers about, and very few Abbie feathers, but the eglu tray was full of Abbie feathers at the start before she got so bare Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted December 15, 2007 Share Posted December 15, 2007 I've not yet experienced a chicken moult, so thanks for the photos everyone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted December 15, 2007 Author Share Posted December 15, 2007 They do seem to know what they want to eat don't they? My three one year olds have also decided to moult as well, although not as drastically as Beryl. I've been adding chick crumbs to their pellets and they are hoovering them up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...