MedusA Posted November 2, 2008 Share Posted November 2, 2008 Why do chickens all moult just as the weather is geting cold? I have two in full moult at present and the "babies" are still getting their adult plumage, so it looks like carnage in the run at the moment, with feathers all over the place. I have a few moulting-related questions, if anyone can answer them for me. How long does a full moult take? Do they go off lay for the whole of the moulting period? I'm giving them meal worms and chicken spice in addition to their layers pellets. Anything else (non-meat) that I could/should give them to help them through it? It seems such a waste to bin the feathers. Can feathers be composted? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barkisland Posted November 2, 2008 Share Posted November 2, 2008 Being a newbie, I only know the answer to one of those questions and that is: Yes, feathers are compostable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin Posted November 2, 2008 Share Posted November 2, 2008 Being a relative newbie - I know the answer to another one! I think tuna fish helps with the protein! Hopefully someone will be along soon who knows ALL the answers!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted November 2, 2008 Share Posted November 2, 2008 yes they do go off lay for the whole of the period - its too much effort for their bodies to make feathers and eggs. As for length of moult, it partially depends on type and size of bird. Our (small) banties take around 4 weeks for more or less full regrowth, with the odd quill still not fully formed. Our (very large) LF take 12 weeks or even more for absolute full coverage. I'm sure others will give you their experiences; I would guess its 6-8 weeks for most birds? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 2, 2008 Share Posted November 2, 2008 You can give them dolphin friendly tuna - rinsed, scrambled egg, or chick crumbs. I always just sweep up the feathers with the spent Aubiose and compost it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted November 2, 2008 Share Posted November 2, 2008 I always give mine fish trimmings from the fishmonger when they are moulting and we also breed live meal worms as they are far higher in protein than the dried ones. I did also buy some trout for my poor suffering cochin last week. My cochin has been moulting for months and is only now getting back to her old self. On the other hand, my hybrids seem to have just had a mini-moult and they are back in track after only two to three weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted November 2, 2008 Share Posted November 2, 2008 can I ask how many live mealworms you feed Janty? Also how do you breed them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted November 2, 2008 Share Posted November 2, 2008 I bought my original live mealworms from Wiggly Wigglers ages ago. You keep them in a tub with a lid with some bokashi bran in it. The mealworms pupate then develop into flour beetles. Keep them topped up with fresh bokashi bran and separate the beetles as they emerge into another tub with bran in. Give the beetles slices of apple on a weekly basis and they will lay eggs which then develop into more mealworms. I have gone through several cycles of this so I feed my girls a scoop full of mealworms each evening. WigglyWigglers have an offer on at the moment for three free tubs of live meal worms with each order. I have just started farming three more trays (I use the shallow transparent office trays with clip on lids from Tescos - expensive at first at £5.99 each but I slipped one into each weeks shopping basket and didn't notice it too much). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted November 2, 2008 Share Posted November 2, 2008 well , now I KNOW lots of you are going to laugh your socks off Only having had tubs of dried AND no mention of how long they would live AND having no idea what 500gram of live mealworm looked like AND being sure a friend would have half of my order( wrong ) WAIT FOR IT.... I ordered 4KG with 3 free tubs....... well, let me tell ANYONE that like me doesn't have a clue...... It IS one hell of a lot... And my flock 4 ok ok you can stop laughing now.... I have noticed that they turn white and seem to have bigger front legs... Are they starting to pupat then. I have kept some in the bottom of the fridge, some in buckets in the shed, have fed apple & bran also the dusty mash my girls leave behind,& noticed an ammonia smell? Any motre advice. og & They arrived 4 weeks ago might I have hundreds of beetles soon.? will they fly if thety turn before I notice...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted November 2, 2008 Share Posted November 2, 2008 Get farming them. You will never have to buy mealworms again. Bed them down with a layer of bran and some slices of apple. Separate the beetles. The girls will love them. Think of yourself as a good chicken Mummy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted November 2, 2008 Share Posted November 2, 2008 Get farming them. You will never have to buy mealworms again. Bed them down with a layer of bran and some slices of apple. Separate the beetles. The girls will love them. Think of yourself as a good chicken Mummy. The girls will eat the beetle? the best bit is I don't like them they give me the shivers! Getting better now. The thibgs we do for our girls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted November 2, 2008 Share Posted November 2, 2008 Mygirls eat the worms and the beetles although I try not to give them the beetles as they then lay the eggs which leads to more worms. I can't stand them either. Hubby does all the sorting for me. If I have to go anywhere near them, I use a scoop (big whoosy woman that I am!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted November 2, 2008 Share Posted November 2, 2008 I use a long handled ladle that wil never see my kitchen again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted November 2, 2008 Share Posted November 2, 2008 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin Posted November 2, 2008 Share Posted November 2, 2008 Having got the 'three free tubs' (try saying that when you've had a couple of glasses of wine!) from Wigglers, I shake the mealies directly out onto the ground from the tub. My girls love them I'm VERY interested to hear, Janty, how easy it is to make new ones, have noticed a few beetles in the tubs Off to get them out now! (well not exactly now, maybe in the morning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted November 2, 2008 Share Posted November 2, 2008 Have a look at here, http://www.javafinch.co.uk/feed/live/live.html Lets start together, see how we go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin Posted November 2, 2008 Share Posted November 2, 2008 Thanks for the user guide! OK you're on. As long as you don't count the 4kg you've already got!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin Posted November 2, 2008 Share Posted November 2, 2008 Flippin' eck - looks quite complicated after reading this! Thought Janty said it was easy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 2, 2008 Share Posted November 2, 2008 also they can be fried and sprinkled on to a salad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin Posted November 2, 2008 Share Posted November 2, 2008 EEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!! I should imagine they taste quite nutty!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nuggywoo Posted November 2, 2008 Share Posted November 2, 2008 My girls have been moulting for about 4 weeks, there are so many feathers in the morning it looks like a bloodless massacre . They've now started to look a bit motheaten, especially round their necks. I really don't know where all the feathers are coming from! There can't be many more left... In 3 years of keeping & breeding pure breeds I've never know them to moult this much. What a time to choose! I feed mine warm porridge & poultry spice with soaked mealworms, soaked sultanas and their usual corn/pellets. Not too sure about the tuna - don't want to attract foxes if the girls don't eat it all. Because of this forum I've now just ordered a mealworm breeding kit , it must be cheaper, in the long run, than buying tubs. Just one question about the mealworms - I know they can be fed live but is it possible to kill them? Humanely?? (Stupid question but I've got a thing about lots of legs ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted November 2, 2008 Share Posted November 2, 2008 Have a go at breeding them, following the instructions that I posted earlier. It is easy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helenmb Posted November 2, 2008 Share Posted November 2, 2008 Great advice about the Mealworms am going to start farming some of mine too now as my girls love them too. Luckily I'm not squeemish so happy to pick out the beetles, a few weeks ago I left some too long and noticed they'd hatched but gave the beetles to the girls too - whoops now I know better. Hope your feather situation gets better soon. I feed my girls the worms and tuna both of which go down very well, and I also compost the feather as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted November 2, 2008 Share Posted November 2, 2008 2 of ours are moulting aswell. No sign of any eggs since we came back from our holiday. I just think its the time of year that really mucks up their little systems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted November 3, 2008 Share Posted November 3, 2008 Flippin' eck - looks quite complicated after reading this! Thought Janty said it was easy! Don't worry, the instructions that we had made it look complicated. Basically, just separate the beetles once they emerge and put them into a separate tub/s (if you have 4kg to start with ). We have got 6 tubs on the go at the moment. Just make sure that they have fresh bran and slices of apple (or whatever your instructions say). Apple has always worked well for us. Have fun, Jan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
