Helen&Lee Posted January 14, 2008 Share Posted January 14, 2008 My Buff Brahma looks like she has started moulting. Given that she only started laying in Oct and isn't a year old yet is this normal? How often do they moult? Helen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah 2 Posted January 14, 2008 Share Posted January 14, 2008 I'm not sure how often they moult. But one of my girls who is not a year yet has also moulted this winter. So I guess it's ok. She did look very uncared for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feemcg Posted January 14, 2008 Share Posted January 14, 2008 My Cream Legbar and Welbar that I hatched last year aren't a year old yet - they both started laying in September/October, only laid for a few weeks then moulted in December. Their feathers are starting to grow back now and I'm hoping they start laying again in February. I was surprised too Helen (and disappointed as I only got nice blue eggs for a few weeks ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted January 14, 2008 Share Posted January 14, 2008 They do seem to go through partial moults sometimes. A couple of mine have done that this winter. As long as it is a moult and she isn't being pecked (you'll know it's a moult as she will quickly start to regrow little stubby quills), she may benefit from some extra protein in her diet to aid feather regrowth. Rinsed, tinned tuna in spring water; cat food and chick crumbs are all a good source of extra protein. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen&Lee Posted January 14, 2008 Author Share Posted January 14, 2008 I'm pretty sure she isn't being pecked - she is more likely to be the pecker of others to be honest I was fretting that she was bored, but with a huge run with branches, perches, dusbath's etc. in it (thinking of moving the garden bench in because they like it so much ) and free ranging all weekend I think I'm beginning to tip the scales of 'over the top chicken welfare worrier' They had washed tuna yesterday - all of them, because she is such a stroppy madam she won't let me give her individual treatment Helen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 14, 2008 Share Posted January 14, 2008 My first chickens moulted a bit around their heads and necks in their first winter. I got them at POL in June. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted January 14, 2008 Share Posted January 14, 2008 I don't know how often they are supposed to moult but my he/she brahmas went through an awful moult and looked all scraggy for a while. That was about November. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
