CharLeila Posted September 25, 2010 Share Posted September 25, 2010 Hi, My girls have never moulted before but the amount of feathers in the FR area is ridiculous. I went out to check them all over a minute ago and they all have bald patches on their undersides (some worse than others). They aren't using them for the nesting box so I can rule out putting enough straw in that! Also, egg production seems to of slowed down. They all eat and drink well and still seem quite happy and healthy. Any help would be great. Oh, if they are moulting, how long does it take, is there anything I can do to make it easier and will they be back by winter??? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted September 25, 2010 Share Posted September 25, 2010 sounds like mine there are feathers every were like the aftermath of a pillow fight and only 3 of mine are moulting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Shirl Posted September 25, 2010 Share Posted September 25, 2010 Sounds like the moult has begun. I took this picture of one of mine yesterday. All of mine are moulting and the eggs are very scarce. They can take quite a few weeks to replace feathers but you will be able to see and feel the new ones if you pick them up and have a look. Mine get quite techy when they are moulting I believe that they feel quite sore as the feathers come in........ Some hens sit about and look very sad, others just get on as usual. Up the protein in the form of Tuna fish and scrambled egg, meal worms are good. They will soon look good as new. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
migsy Posted September 25, 2010 Share Posted September 25, 2010 My 20 week old light sussex is moulting too. Little fluffy feathers all over the lawn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sari Posted September 25, 2010 Share Posted September 25, 2010 Mine appear to be too...although I don't know what is normal, having had them for 3 weeks! I have 2 Sussexs of about 20 weeks, and they appear to to be losing feathers... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted September 25, 2010 Share Posted September 25, 2010 They all seem to be different. One of my orpies looked quite bare - she still has bald patches but looks more like a porcupine now. The other orpie does it much more discretely - only noticeable by the feathers that have come out all over the floor and the much newer grey feathers while the older feathers have a brown tinge. The rest of them look all raggy as if they've been dragged through a hedge backwards. It looks like an explosion in a pillow factory in the garden at the moment! The pekins haven't even started yet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
migsy Posted September 26, 2010 Share Posted September 26, 2010 It looks like an explosion in a pillow factory in the garden at the moment! The pekins haven't even started yet! My garden too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJuff Posted September 27, 2010 Share Posted September 27, 2010 I thought it was just my hens moulting!! Our white star looks like a transylvanian naked neck . . . Darcy the black rock looks as though she's exploded in a black feather pillow fight . . all very amusing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
