4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[jill the potter]

Hi,

 

Not been on for some time Both hens have been great, laying well and thankfully no probs until........... have just been away for a week (bliss) Tikka had lost a couple of feathers before we went, and my son, who was looking after them, phoned me to ask if she should be loosing feathers to which I replied "it's quite natural" I have been waiting for one or both of them to moult but was NOT expecting what greated me yesterday when I got back .....Tikka is almost totally bald! Not just a few feathers, nearly all of them!!!! I can see new ones emerging and she seems ok she just looks sooooooooo odd, no tail feathers or anything!!!

 

I am assuming this is normal. I just stupidly didn't realise that when they moulted it was to such an extent. Should I do anything different or just treat her as normal. She has stopped laying which I understand is normal too.

[Christian]

Hi Jill, yes they will stop laying so their energy can go into producing new feathers before winter.

 

You could feed them extra protein, as that is said to help. Tinned tuna (in springwater), meal worms or cat food are all supposed to be good.

[Plum]

Very dramatic, mine have been doing it all a lot more gradually.

[brambles]

One of mine has done that too - she looks like a hedgehog!

 

She's tending to separate herself from the flock somewhat which is unusual, think she feels a bit under the weather as she's usually the dominant one. Behaviour is normal, but we're keeping an eye on her and giving her extra tlc and protein.

[jill the potter]

Yes, all Tikka seems to want to do is hide in the bushes. I think she might be embarrassed She's eating ok and have given her tuna which is now her favourite treat! I always thought she was quite a large hen until now, she looks about a quarter of her size! Can see the new feathers poking through so hopefully she'll have her new feathers before it gets too cold. Although probably Korma will decide to moult then!

[sandyhas3chucks]

robins hide too during their moult, so Autumn watch said!

[JM]

I'm amazed at how may feathers they have!! Winnie is mid moult at the moment - bald chest, bald bum, sp"Ooops, word censored!" wings... (she looks a sight - but it doesn't seem to be worrying her), Bunty is just starting and so far Daphne isn't!

 

Winnie has chosen a great time to lose her feathers - it was 3degC yesterday morning when I left, and today has been cold, raining and windy! (she's tucking into the treats of tuna, oats and sweetcorn though!)

 

Jill

[sandyhas3chucks]

i can't believe that temp. still mild until Sundown, thought we had it cold but no where near 3 degrees!

[JM]

I was surprised too - at least that's what my car said when I drove off to work! (the low temperature alert came on for the first time this year!). The week before last it was quite warm.

 

It was absolutely tipping down here about half an hour ago - it started going dark at about 3.30 today and it's almost completely dark now

[sandyhas3chucks]

odd was dark here when I was typing

[Dappy Chick]

A lot of mine went into moult recently.

 

I had some Garvo Pigeon Moulting food in the shop that I had ordered in for someone & they hadn't collected it. It smells really nice. I have been giving it to the girls at corn time and they go mad for it (although they do tend to leave the peas until last).

 

Anyway, I had one Pekin that really had a heavy moult, when I was in the run earlier I had to do a double take - all her feathers are looking really good and shiny again. Not sure if its the food but it seems a huge coincidence.

[sandyhas3chucks]

Might try that on one of mine

[cordelia]

my poor Daphne (RIR) is nearly bald too.....and her two sisters are fully feathered, they ahd a tin of tuna yesterday and some well stuff....poor thing...

 

it was -0.5c when I left the house at 6am this morning ;-(

[jill the potter]

Just as amazingly as the feathers all dropped off...........they are growing back again at a rate of notts!!!! Tikka is not as embarrased as she was, and she loves her porridge and tuna supper!!!! Don't know when Korma will decide to go into moult - hope it's not too cold when she does.....can't envisage me knitting a jumper!!!!!!

 

Once again friends are amazed at the life of a chicken. It's been quite educational for me and for them!