CallyChook Posted September 3, 2010 Share Posted September 3, 2010 This may sound daft as I have had the hens for a year now, but this time last yr they were not quite POL and so didnt seem to do an annual autumn moult. My gold laced orpie is a bit bald. Originally it was her back and upper wing surface due to our old cockerel being over enthusiastic with her. The new cockerel shows her no interest, but her feathers have never recovered and her bot has become bald too, we think she's being pecked by the others when roosting as I never see them at her during the day at all. Either that or she is pulling her own feathers out. So I've been treating her with anti-pecking spray and giving the chooks a little extra protein for a couple of days now, no obvious improvement yet but of course it'll take a while to show a new growth of feathers even if I'm on top of the problem. Anyways, for three days now the buff orpie's feathers have been adorning the garden and coop floor too. Again, I cant see any bullying going on at all so I'm assuming now that she's just moulting. This being our first autumn with adult chickens, can someone tell me, is it about the right time for her to be moulting?? Or is it more likely to be feather pecking?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirstine Posted September 3, 2010 Share Posted September 3, 2010 Ours are moulting now - there are feathers everywhere. Noone is bald, but they are all looking a bit scruffy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grracee Posted September 3, 2010 Share Posted September 3, 2010 Same here. I have 4/5 moulting, girls are looking abit scruffy & there's feathers dropping all over the place Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deb Dav Posted September 3, 2010 Share Posted September 3, 2010 When they are moulting thay look so scraggy and bare but then...... when their new feathers are through they look so gorgeous and in fine fettle. Our Doris who is a calder ranger looks so glamerous after a moult and we have had her for over four and half years and she still lays every day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CallyChook Posted September 3, 2010 Author Share Posted September 3, 2010 fab, Faye must be moulting then Big sigh of relief, one baldie bird is enough worry!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 3, 2010 Share Posted September 3, 2010 My Pekin Bantams are moulting something alarming. The run looked like an explosion in a pillow factory a couple of days ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
txswanie Posted September 4, 2010 Share Posted September 4, 2010 Why do chickens moult, is it something to do with a change in weather? Does it only happen in colder months, what if you live somewhere warm? Sorry, I have only had the girls since April so have not experienced a moult. No one seems to be loosing feathers yet. Do they all moult and stop laying or just certain breeds? sorry for the ignorance.. Colette. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
