Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[chickenlicken72]

I want my lovely friendly tame cuddly chooks back... ever since they started moulting in force, they have become moody surly little madams. No one can touch them, go near them, they won't jump up on my lap like they used to. I suppose it is a stressful and uncomfortable time of their little chickeny lives - especially when they all looked oven ready about a week ago but I cannot wait until its over and my ladies return to normal lovely selves.

 

I'm upping the protein levels to help speed things along - but is there anything else I can do to help get them through this?

[skye]

I know the feeling chickenlicken72! One of ours in particular is so prickly - literally - at this time of year that she has a special angry cluck especially for moulting time! If anyone goes near her, or - heaven forbid - you go to pick her up, you should hear her cluck at them!!

 

Someone told me last year that when the spines start growing in, it's really uncomfortable for them, and as it's all over their bodies, it must feel pretty awful.

 

Apart from the odd tuna boost, I've just purchased some Nettex Moult Tonic online, it is supposed to help with maintaining body weight and boosting protein levels during the moult. I read somebody else had good results with it on here so I'm giving it a try. First day though so no results as yet. I also found Avi-pro was good at helping them through the moult last year (another tonic which helps their gut and immune system, I believe).

 

I'm sure your girls will be fab again in no time.

 

skye x

[chickenlicken72]

Thanks Skye. I already have some avipro kicking around so I will give that a whirl. I have been using a nice dose of lifeguard in their water too - to compliment the tuna meals/cat food meals.

 

Can really relate to the angry cluck noise- I am hearing that in unison from the 4 that a moulting. They are like really really very grumpy old women at the moment. Heres hoping that peace is restored soon!

[StephenW]

I went to clean the nest box where my chickens sleep last week brcause they dont have roost bar but any way there were so many feathers over the space of a night. It was unbelievable

[sjp]

just let my lot out and the amount of speckled sussex feathers that are in the coop the nest box and the run proper pillow fight type of job the other moult'ees have took a week or more to shed that many feathers she's done it in about 3 days

[beach chick]

it always seems bizarre that they can lose so many feathers, and yet still seem to have a reasonable amount on them!!

[MarkBevBen]

Awwwwww our girls are still young, but I really sympathise with you all it must be awful watching them go through all that process especially whilst it's cold too

[lillybettybabs]

Mine are just at then end of theirs now,

I did find a Grower pellet mash every morning and some tonic in their water enough to pull them through it.

Hopefully Battle Axe Betty will let me cuddle again soon.

[skye]

Yep growers pellet mash is a great idea lillybettybabs, i think it's higher in protein than layers

 

skye x

[Space Chick]

I have several moulty grumpy girls too, it looks like a pillow fight has taken place every night when I look at the poo trays full of feathers, the same with the run.

 

I am giving my lot loads of mealworms and tuna in spring water to help with the protein.

 

I have also got pecking order re-adjustments at the moment after losing my second in command hybrid Rose on Monday so thats made them even more stroppy

[chickenlicken72]

Also undergoing pecking order changes as I am also integrating some new girls - who don't really quite know what they have done wrong to deserve such moody sisters. Secretly I whisper to the new girls that they should take no notice of hens who only have only an average of two tail feathers each - both of which point in different, odd and unusual directions. I would be tempted to help the tail feathers fall out - but you cannot be sad with moody hens for when they look so ridiculous! Think the worse of the feather drop is over with, but cleaning out the run/house last week was a nightmare with loose feathers everywhere!