EmmaJC Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 Just under a week ago I came home to a run full of feathers and fearing the worst I checked up on the girls. One of them seemed to have lost all of the feathers on her chest within a day. I brought her in for the night in case she'd been attacked by the other girls but when I checked on her in the morning she seemed to have lost yet more feathers so I presume she is mounting. She's been loosing more and more feathers over the last few days and now looks quite drab. When I checked on her tonight I moved back some of the feathers to see the root and she has dozens of new, thin, black quill like things sticking all over her. Is this normal? It looks quite repulsive and I imagine must be itchy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 yes thats all normal, the new feathers come through encased n papery tubes which flake away as the feather fans out, dont think they are more than an irritation to the chook Extra protein at this time will help speed things up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbier Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 Tagging on here rather than start a new thread. It's my hens first winter, and one (top hen) has a bum looking like the proverbial oven-ready chicken. However, her legs look really patchy too (though not scaley). Is it normal to moult from the legs too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 They can get really scruffy and need TLC, but not too much handling as you do not want to damage the delicate new feathers coming through. Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madchickenlady Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 None of mine moult in the way they're supposed to As long as you can see new quills poking through, it's just a normal moult. My girls feel a bit under the weather when they moult, as I imagine it's uncomfortable for them. I try to limit handling them, and give their pellets a top dressing of poultry spice and just generally a little more tLC. They do look a state, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmmaJC Posted February 2, 2010 Author Share Posted February 2, 2010 Many thanks for the advice, I'll make sure I avoid handling her. She is looking very grumpy indeed at the moment and seems to spend most of her day perching under the patio table. What would be good to give her for additional protein? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 Mealworms or chick crumbs are good for extra protein. Dried alfalfa is also a very good conditioner with 17% protein. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coco Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 Lily lost all her leg feathers but they grew back really quickly. Shes been moulting for five weeks now but is starting to look and feel a bit better. Shes growing new feathers on her head which will cover the bald patch she arrived with after being pecked in the cages. I gave her rinsed tuna in springwater to help boost her feather regrowth. its lovely to see her all fluffy and nearly completely feathered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beulah59 Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 My two top-of-the-pecking-order ex-batts are moulting ... they look scruffier than when they arrived! I haven't noticed that they're feeling at all 'under the weather' ... yet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedReader Posted February 4, 2010 Share Posted February 4, 2010 My girls started their moult in October & although Barbara (Mrs P) has started laying again, Margot still hasnt, shes not even crouching yet, shes being very grumpy too. I assume that she will start laying again any day soon - DH has resorted to buying eggs as Barbara only manages a couple a week. Margot does look lovely with her new feathers so its not all bad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 4, 2010 Share Posted February 4, 2010 My girls started their moult in October & although Barbara (Mrs P) has started laying again, Margot still hasnt, shes not even crouching yet, shes being very grumpy too. I assume that she will start laying again any day soon - DH has resorted to buying eggs as Barbara only manages a couple a week. Margot does look lovely with her new feathers so its not all bad How old are they redreader? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henriette Posted February 5, 2010 Share Posted February 5, 2010 Two of mine went almost completely bald during their last moult and it seemed to go on for ages, but now, they are absolutely beautiful and laying well too. Nature is a funny thing, isn't it. No definite rules - always exceptions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jill the potter Posted February 5, 2010 Share Posted February 5, 2010 My blackrock Tikka did a complete moult in the space of about 5 days!! Unfortunately it was while we were on holiday and my poor son was distraught!! She stopped laying totally and it took 6 weeks for her to get a complete set of new feathers and she now looks great! Whereas Korma has been moulting steadily bit by bit for about a month now - she's not stopped laying but has slowed down a little. Of the two I think I prefer them to loose them all at once and get it over with - even though Tikka did seriously look like an 'oven ready' chicken for a couple of weeks!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmmaJC Posted February 5, 2010 Author Share Posted February 5, 2010 I know how your son must have felt - it's the most shocking thing I think I've ever seen, and it looks worse every day! I went to lock them in last night and she was sat in the nesting box with her remaining feathers fluffed up so you could see the new growth clearly, it looks like she has some awful thorns growing out of her with fluffy tops - it's the creepiest thing I've ever seen. I've been feeling so sorry for her she's been getting buckets of treats and has had a squash every day this week. Poor Nigella. They really do know how to lay on a guilt trip - not only has she got the "I used to live in a cage" thing to fall back on when she's trashing the garden but now she has the "I'm itchy and bald don't you know" routine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
