Is your dog's unusual barking a secret code for something mysterious?

[fluffyfeet]

Just a quick question as I'm a bit concerned about the amount of feathers that have suddenly appeared (over 36 hrs) in the coop.

I know it's the time of year for moulting and have seen feathers about the place at this time of year before, but I'm quite shocked as to how much seems to appeared this year.

Two of the pekins are quite tatty looking with one of them having a large bald patch on her back (which thankfully the others seem to be ignoring at the mo).

The others don't seem to have lost much if any by comparison.

 

Do all chickens moult at this time of year or does it depend on age, breed ???

 

Many thanks.

 

Dawn x

[beach chick]

most likely a moult. for the life of me I cannot understand why they choose the coldest time of year to do it!! why dont they wait til the summer?!

[Christian]

I would second that. Now is the time for moulting. 2 of mine are looking terrible. Hunched, miserable and not really eating. Feathers everywhere with soft downy fluff in patches.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mdwodzWeTi0/TL_wUeIQgdI/AAAAAAAABLA/6bZ2gEHlwg4/s1600/MOULTINGA%26C.JPG

[Plum]

One of mine is 2 1/2 and only ever loses a few feathers the other does it in a big way. Don't know why must be genetic. However, the new feathers coming through in quills on Pigeon are toasty warm so she'll not get cold. Touch yours and see

[lillybettybabs]

Two of mine are having a big moult, Still active and laying now and again.

I can see the new feathers coming through now.

[The Dogmother]

Most of mine have had gentle moults, but my RIR banty had a terrific moult and was almost naked. I started her on some moulting rescue and she's feathering up quicker now.

[fluffyfeet]

Thanks all for putting my mind at rest.

 

Picked a few of them up today and could feel new quills on all of them, which explains why there were so many feathers.

I was really shocked at how quickly the new quills have appeared on the one with the bald patch. Like my OH said, nature is brilliant!! Got them some 'Liquid Tonix with added Seaweed' by Nettex to pop in their water and tried them with a bit of cat food too - all I can say is 'good grief' re the catfood, they were like veloceraptors

 

Claret - I am sooooo pleased with my RIR banties - such a pleasant nature, and the one follows me around like a little dog making a sort of 'tutting' sound.

 

Dawn x

[The Dogmother]

be careful not to handle them much when they have quills coming through - it is very uncomfortable for them and can damage the emerging feathers. Roxanne looks like a porcupine at the moment, but is feathering up quite quickly.

[Tiggy]

Saffy is still very bald underneath has been like it for a long time, not laying but eating & putting the others in their place but she's been bald so long Im not sure if i should be doing anything else

[Tiggy]

after all this time Saffy seems to be growing new feathers, she has had bald patches for nearly a year, all the extra meal worms/worming/powders general TLC seem to have worked, poor girl was so threadbear I thought she would never feather up again

[chooklady]

Mine are moulting really badly at the moment. Poor Willow is bald on her back and a couple of other places and some of the others look really tatty aswell. I've been giving them allsorts of extras. I hadn't though about cat food, I suppose it's cheaper than giving tinned fish and cheese and the like.