Stedic Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 Hello all, Strange goings on in my WIR over the last week. I've got 5 girls in a 9 x 6 WIR with a Cube. 2 hybrids (bought in May) and 3 ex-batts (arrived August). Since arriving the ex-batts have never grown any new feathers, but have been happy in themselves and laying everyday. No major problems integrating the flocks and they all seem pretty happy - just look s"Ooops, word censored!"py. Even the ex-batts have laid every single day since they arrived. I've never had a problem with mites, lice, worms etc. Last week for no obvious reason all 5 went off lay overnight, but I wasn't too concerned as we had 3 cold nights in a row. I got some Flubenvet pellets and Frontline (not licensed I know) to cover the bases, and treatment with both starts today. BUT - when I went to the run this am after a weekend of night shifts its covered in feathers! There have been more than usual all week but I thought someone had been eaten! All five girls look their normal selves and were eating and drinking happily. I've never seen any sign that foxes/rats/mice have gotten into the WIR, so I don't know if its the start of a moult? Would they all start together? The perspex sheet had blown of part of the roof overnight, I guess that could of scared them but seems unlikely to have caused them to lose that many feathers! They were a mixture of different birds, including the one who's most inclined to bully and feather peck. I'm confused and a little concerned - is there anything I can do? Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 It sounds like a moult to me, just an amazing co-incidence that they started on the same day. Mine all started moulting very close together although not quite all on the same day. When they're moulting, it can make the run look like there's been a pillow fight taken place! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madchickenlady Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 Agree, sounds like a moult Never underestimate the amount of feathers that can come from one chicken! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oneyolktoanother Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 yeah i agree it sounds like a moult, mine stared moulting all at thw same time when we had all the snow poor girls! and went off laying 2 have just started laying again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stedic Posted February 7, 2011 Author Share Posted February 7, 2011 Have just returned from the WIR having succeorssfully harrassed my sleepy chooks! They each got a drop of Frontline, which they didn't like much - I'm going for a 7 day egg withdrawal, but thats ok as they're not laying anyway! Hopefully any ticks, lice and mites will be sufficiently upset by it to go away! If they run for the bedding then they'll find it covered in louse powder (the chickens got a dusting too, not under their wings but I figure some will work its way in to help the frontline out). Oh, I also gave them each a coating of Ukadex as there were some red patches on the ex-batts so I assume someone is feather pulling too (put it on before the louse powder dusting!). 15 minutes into my attack they were all Frontline'd, sprayed brown and smelly and then dusted in white powder...bless them and their little angry noises! I've also given them some Lifeguard in their water and changed to the Flubenvet pellets for the next 7 days! Hopefully that'll help them put on some feathers so they can look a little less ridiculous in the spring! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daxigirl Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 Paxo stopped laying at New Years and is still moulting now, the garden seems to have feathers everywhere, she's cheery enough in herself though. You'll need to hoover with 5 of them shedding feathers! Pillows anyone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oneyolktoanother Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 Have just returned from the WIR having succeorssfully harrassed my sleepy chooks! They each got a drop of Frontline, which they didn't like much - I'm going for a 7 day egg withdrawal, but thats ok as they're not laying anyway! Hopefully any ticks, lice and mites will be sufficiently upset by it to go away! If they run for the bedding then they'll find it covered in louse powder (the chickens got a dusting too, not under their wings but I figure some will work its way in to help the frontline out). Oh, I also gave them each a coating of Ukadex as there were some red patches on the ex-batts so I assume someone is feather pulling too (put it on before the louse powder dusting!). 15 minutes into my attack they were all Frontline'd, sprayed brown and smelly and then dusted in white powder...bless them and their little angry noises! I've also given them some Lifeguard in their water and changed to the Flubenvet pellets for the next 7 days! Hopefully that'll help them put on some feathers so they can look a little less ridiculous in the spring! you did that in such a quick time does'nt ukadex stink? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stedic Posted February 9, 2011 Author Share Posted February 9, 2011 Well, they couldn't run away and i got everything set up on top of the Cube so I didn't have to open and close it. They hate me now of course! Ukadex really stinks, but i'm going to give them regular sprays if the pecking continues. I'm leaving the feathers in the run at the moment - I'll dig out all the woodchip on Tuesday once they've been wormed, so the feathers will come out then. I think I'm going to worm them again in three weeks in case there's an ongoing problem, so I'll just keep on top of the worst of the feathers until another dig out then! Isn't summer so much easier!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oneyolktoanother Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Well, they couldn't run away and i got everything set up on top of the Cube so I didn't have to open and close it. They hate me now of course! Ukadex really stinks, but i'm going to give them regular sprays if the pecking continues. I'm leaving the feathers in the run at the moment - I'll dig out all the woodchip on Tuesday once they've been wormed, so the feathers will come out then. I think I'm going to worm them again in three weeks in case there's an ongoing problem, so I'll just keep on top of the worst of the feathers until another dig out then! Isn't summer so much easier!! they always sulk dont they Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
