Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[Bootscooter Nell]

I have had my 3 girls for 18 months now. My white one has never really moulted in all this time but a couple of days ago she started losing her feathers in large quantities. She now has lost all her tail feathers and has a bald bottom. I am extremely worried because of the cold weather we are having.

 

Is is normal for a chicken to moult at this time of the year or could there be somthing else causing the problem? My brown and black chooks both moulted at the end of the summer. Also, what can I do or give her to keep her warm and healthy? They are kept in a large covered pen and I have been covering the eglu with an old sleeping bag. I've also put a heat pad underneath them in the tray to help keep them warm at night. She is not herself but that could be because she is cold.

Thanks

[Plum]

Silly chicken, do you remember last year there were quite a few doing big moults when it was icy cold. My Pigeon has had quite a big moult and she was definately under the weather with it.

 

It's recommended to give a tonic and extra protien (cat food, tuna etc.).

 

Sounds like you have got it sorted protecting them from the worst of the frost.

[Christian]

You could also feed her wheat/oats as they release energy slowly and will keep her warmer. As long as she is with the others at night, she should be fine and warm enough

[Egluntyne]

Daft as it seems, this is the time when they tend to have a major moult.

 

Until hybrids appeared on the scene, all hens stopped laying over winter and put the time to good use by growing new feathers and rebuilding their stores, so that they were ready for chick rearing in the Spring.

[The Dogmother]

My pure breeds all do that and I shan't have any eggs now until the end of January. Kepe her fed up on a warm mash with lots of cod liver oil, tuna or mealworms and a good tonic in their water. Two of mine have done the same and they are now feathering up nicely.

[Bootscooter Nell]

I am now very very worried about Lisa my moulting chook and I don't know what to do for the best. She has now lost a huge amount of feathers especially around her wings and back end. She is hiding in the eglu because everytime she comes out the other two are chasing and pecking at her and breaking off even more feathers. She is bottom of the pecking order and I don't know whether to seperate her, take her to the vets or what. They normally have the run of the garden but I've kept them in the pen because of the snow. Please please could someone give me some advice.

Thank you.

[meezers]

You could boot the other 2 out into the garden to give her a bit of peace, they'll be ok in the snow for a while. She'll be ok in the Eglu with them at night, should be sleeping not pecking ! but if there is someway you can seperate them during the day if they insist on pecking her. Are they drawing blood or just pulling feathers ? if you can get hold of some Ukadex ( there is a thread on here with the best place to get it from ) and give her a good spray with that it should stop them pecking feathers. Not sure if farm shops stock it, maybe phone and ask if you have any near you.

[meezers]

Just found the thread, www.bowdenandknights.com was the site most people were using, it's where I ordered mine from, I phoned for delivery cost and they were very helpful, good luck.

[Bootscooter Nell]

I took her to the vets this afternoon and she said that it looks worse than it is. There is no broken skin just broken feather shafts which have bled a bit and a lot of lost feathers. I let all three roam the garden for the latter part of this afternoon just to witness what was going on. Lisa was very wary of the other two and kept her distance which easier for her in the garden. I have decided that I will boot the other two out into the garden tomorrow morning and keep Lisa isolated until after lunch and then let her out with them in the afternoon. I dont want to isolate her too much because she is bottom of the pecking order and I want to keep her socialised with the other two as much as possible.

 

Thank you everyone for your advice in this matter. I was terrified I was going to find a dead chicken tomorrow morning but feel much happier now that I understand a bit more of what has been happening.

 

Have a lovely Christmas and a happy 2010.