Luvachicken Posted December 5, 2010 Share Posted December 5, 2010 Matilda has been moulting really badly and has looked a bit out of sorts the last few days. She did have a limp too but that seems to have gone now. I thought as she looked sad again today I would give her a cuddle to cheer her up, and as I did I noticed the dangly bits that are furthest back have gone on both sides. There doesn't seem to be any blood anywhere on her or in the run and what is left does have a neat edge, but what has happened to them ? Do they shrink when they are moulting ? Charlotte still has hers but they look a bit dry, so can I put vaseline on them ? I do have some tea tree oil left from feather pecking before could I use that instead? Why does everything always seem to happen to my chickens when it snows Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 5, 2010 Share Posted December 5, 2010 They do shrink when the hens are off lay. I'm sure there is nothing sinister going on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted December 5, 2010 Share Posted December 5, 2010 Presume you mean her wattles rather than her chicken breasts They shrink as Egluntyne says and go pale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted December 5, 2010 Author Share Posted December 5, 2010 Thank you soooooo much, I was hoping someone would say something like that. How long do you think it might be before they come back ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted December 5, 2010 Share Posted December 5, 2010 As hormones rise again and they come in to lay so weeks I'm afraid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted December 5, 2010 Author Share Posted December 5, 2010 Thats ok, I don't mind waiting....just as long as she will be ok. What about the dry skin on Charlottes wattles ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted December 5, 2010 Share Posted December 5, 2010 If it's just dry not fungal or anything then a bit of bland moisturiser and some tonic as in lifeguard helped mine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted December 7, 2010 Author Share Posted December 7, 2010 When I picked up Matilda today I noticed that she's not as heavy as she was and certainly not as heavy as Charlotte. Do they lose weight as well as their watlles when they are moulting ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted December 7, 2010 Share Posted December 7, 2010 Not noticed it but she may have burnt off some weight keeping warm in this weather Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted December 7, 2010 Author Share Posted December 7, 2010 Thanks Plum, I will keep an eye on her and hope that might be the problem. It has been very cold here, not as cold as some though, and at least my snow has gone now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
