sparkysmum Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 Hi as you know from my previous thread my ladies have been struggling with the cold. Last night it was around minus 11. When I checked on them this morning there were feathers everywhere, in the eglu & run. So many I thought they'd been got at They belong to my salmon favorelle. What do you think, could the stress of having to deal with extreme cold bring this on or is this something else Thanks Allisonxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 I'd guess that it is a very badly timed moult. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
staceychristie Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 Hi, Our girls are in the downstairs loo at the moment. We had protected the cube with boiler lagging (It is in a sheltered area of the garden on 3 sides.). We have since day 1 discouraged them from sleeping in the nestbox - but found that the past few nights they were all huddled together in there. One of my friends puts an old duvet in there, But we found that an old polyester pillow fits snuggly. ANYwho, We found that one of the girls needed more feathers, so was PLUCKING them of the others!! She's stopped now, so guess it was TOO cold. I thought it was a stupid 'instinct' to moult as ice forms Hugs Stacey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 Gosh, it's very late for a moult and pretty silly to do it overnight at the moment! I can't offer any explanation, just that it would be a good idea to provide some extra protein, shelter and warmth while she's without her feather duvet. Poor thing! Even if it is self-inflicted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 Is ashwe fine and happy in herself, now she is in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Licken Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 Primrose has just finished moulting - laid an egg yesterday!! But when she started it looked like a pillow explosion wherever she stood - poor girl. Just spectacularly badly timed I think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
staceychristie Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 They're quite warm and cuddly now. Still getting an egg every few days. They are spoilt. Porridge and a nice cocktail of oats,poultry spice and cod liver oil. Mix in grit and we have 5 happy girls. Hugs Stacey X Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
