WitchHazel Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 (edited) I haven't seen much evidence of my big Girls, Delilah and Scarlett, moulting. I could see a little bit on Delilah, as the tips of some of her feathers changed colour, and her tail was looking a bit s"Ooops, word censored!"py. I wasn't too worried though, as I read on here that some peoples chickens didn't seem to moult in the first year. For the last couple of weeks they've been having a sachet of cat food every couple of days, and porridge with poultry spice on the other day. For the last few days, Scarlett has had a scatty botty. Today the weather forecast is reasonable, so I filled my sink with lukewarm water, and collected her for a quick wash. She's always quite happy to bebathed, and stands quietly while I do it. While I was washing her, I lifted up her feathery coat to find..... an oven ready chicken underneath. As I blow dried her with the hairdryer, I discovered the extent of the baldness. I was soooo shocked. Her bottom, her sides, under one of her wings, all pretty bare. It;'s well disguised from above, as there the top feathers hide this. I feel terrible. I had no idea. SHe looked fine on the outside. I need to go out and check out Delilah now. Edited September 12, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 A couple of mine aren't wearing any underwear at the moment. They soon recover. As long as they are lice and mite free they will re-feather eventually. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted September 12, 2008 Author Share Posted September 12, 2008 Thanks for that Egluntine. I feel like such a bad mother because I had no idea. She looked OK from above. I need to be more consistent now with the extra protein and poultry spice. Hope you don't mind me asking, how much cat food (or tuna or whatever) do you normally give per chicken per day during this time? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 I normally just: Mix chick crumbs in with their regular feed Spike their water with ACV and poultry tonic (Lifeguard is a very good tonic) Give them tuna once or twice a week. It takes a while, but they'll refeather eventually with a glossy new winter collection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lydia Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 6 of mine are moulting right now and our garden looks as though we're having some kind of ritualistic massacre I do hope the other 3 don't join them as they haven't many feathers to shed yet! It's a bit of a shock when they first do it but you get used to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 Thanks for that Egluntine. I feel like such a bad mother because I had no idea. She looked OK from above. I need to be more consistent now with the extra protein and poultry spice. Hope you don't mind me asking, how much cat food (or tuna or whatever) do you normally give per chicken per day during this time? Erm....Not scientific or precise at all! I have 14 hens in the walk in run, so I give them a couple of small tins of tuna or pouches of organic cat food between them.......not every day though. Usually 2 or 3 times a week as the mood takes me. It takes them a matter of nanoseconds to clear the bowls. They look clean enough to put away without washing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HENthusiastic Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 I read somewhere on here somebody mentioning organic catfood. Does it have to be organic, as I have struggled to find any organic catfood, except in big packs which include loads of chicken flavour and turkey flavour (Which I just couldnt give them). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 these bald tums etc, are they just flesh coloured or red, mine are stiill red. not the featherd girks though. I expect it's cos they nest not roost and are laying in the night pooh. ? (always got clean beds) should I be more consistent with the sodocrem. (just don't like interferring too much, feel I am bothering them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 Three of my ex-batts are now fully feathered, the three very oven-readies still have bare tummies and very little by way of knickers . I rather naively assumed their feathers would quickly regrow once their lives improved with good food, free-ranging and lots of tlc, but it's actually a long haul. Well worth it though Following posts here, I've been spoiling them with tuna and dried mealworms in their porridge and the feathers are noticeably coming back quicker. They get the occasional bit of leftover cat food when the cats aren't looking (not organic and any flavour) and always try to eat the pattern off the plate as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 My Priscilla is having a mini-moult at the moment but it has still stopped her laying. I have been giving her chicken spice and meal worms. I may try cat food and tuna next week for some extra protein. The problem is I think my cats will really rebel as they only get Hills dried cat food and would chop off their right paw for some stinky wet cat food. I imagine they will offer to move into the eglu with the chickens if catfood and tuna are the health benefits Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
