Chicken bald back

[Falkor]

So it is the that time of year and some of my ladies are going through their moults. I have rumpless Orpingtons and Naked Neck Pekins but can someone PLEASE tell me:

 

Why have I just been to the Co-Op and purchased Salmon for the chooks breakfast tomorrow and not got anything for OH and my tea!

 

Will be cheese on toast again for us this evening!

 

Spoilt...my chooks? Not Much!!!!!

[Space Chick]

I know the feeling All I could feed Phil and I last night was poached egg on toast.

 

My girls had tuna

 

Rose is moulting quite badly at the moment

[ClaireG]

DH always says the girls get better fed than him!

[Redwing]

ts the wrong way round here tonight, hubby made me tea with the chickens tuna, I was not impressed but didnt want to upset him by telling him!

[ubereglu]

 

Mine are still moulting. We seem to have had feathers around the garden for months as the weather confused Molly and Spice and they went into moult at the beginning of August. Then Spice gave up on that idea and Muddles started, then those two came back into lay...So we haven't had any eggs from Molly since the end of July...now she swans about looking pretty instead!

 

Spice is finishing moulting, as is Muddles, and Starlet gets balder by the day!

[chick wiggle]

Oh dear My Dd always has a go at me for spoiling the chickens, but they dont answer back like she does!

Just how far does a moult go? One of my light sussex's seem to be losing a lot of feathers especially around her neck at the moment. How naked do they get? Do I need to call Aunty Gok?

[Margaret]

First moult for me, all Girls are loosing some feathers but Mabel is very much the worst affected, almost lost all neck and body feathers. but the question is...

would it make her bad tempered

I know that sound daft, but normally she loves a cuddle and purrs when being stroked but for the last week boks madly and runs away from me, if I do manage to hold her she gets distress and flaps until I put her down!!

Is this normal behaviour?

 

+WIR

Lavender

Mabel

Posh Marjorie

Violet

[dippy bird]

oh, can I give the girls salmon? I have some left over from a party and I know it will end up either in the bin or in the cat,and I would much prefer to give it the ex bats to help them with their re feathering.

[Margalot]

but the question is...

would it make her bad tempered

I know that sound daft, but normally she loves a cuddle and purrs when being stroked but for the last week boks madly and runs away from me, if I do manage to hold her she gets distress and flaps until I put her down!!

Is this normal behaviour?

 

I dont know how relevant this is, but I have just read a book about a hand reared barn owl "Wesley" and when he grew his new feathers the tubes that the feathers grew through are really sensitive and can be painful to touch, so maybe thats why she doesnt like being handled at the moment?

 

any way my question is what is the best thing to fed during a molt? Mine seem to have started this week, trouble is I am worming at the moment too so wanted to cut back on the treats so they will eat the flubenvet treated pellets. Why Tuna and salmon? is it because of the oils?

 

Michelle

[Falkor]

In one of my chook books it does say not to handle a moulting hen if possible as the new quills are very sensitive.

 

Gin, my moulting Orp is my most cuddliest chook so this moulting lark is very hard for me!

 

The tuna and Salmon provide more protein which is needed for re-feathering. Some people feed cat food too.

[Jools]

Protein is important when they are moulting as it helps with their feather re-growth.

 

I tend to feed Breeder pellets at this time of year (and in spring before I start saving eggs for hatching) as they have a higher nutritional value than layers. It has the added benefit of not getting them used to tastier treats so they then turn up their beaks at boring pellets.

[Valkyrie]

Ours had mackerel for the past couple of days too. I always add a dollop of cod liver oil - strangely the horrible smell disappears on the fish. I use more Lifeguard tonic in the water, plus poultry spice - 2 different sorts one of which smells sooo goood, unfortunately that's the one they don't like!

[Margaret]

Thank you every one for your replys.

Have some left over kippers from breakfast a few days ago can they eat them?

 

+WIR

Lavender

Mabel

Posh Marjorie

Violet