Chicken boarders

[Mrs Potts]

Hi.

 

Hettie is moulting and she is the first of my hens to do this, so I don't have much experience here. They are all ex battery hens and I have had them for a year. I looked onthe FAQs and can't see anything about normal moulting behaviour, so apart from enough feathers to stuff a pillow tumbling around the garden, what behaviour do they display? Do they just get on with it or do they have particular things they do, like when they are broody?

 

Came home today to find her hunched and not wanting to FR. Does that sound like a normal moulting response, or perhaps that is egg tackle problems again? She hasn't laid since her worming problem a few weeks ago, although she has been eating like a horse pretty much ever since and firmly re-established normal order with some hefty pecks. She's been behaving like the old Hett since, apart from this evening. I don't think she's comfortable now, though she did take some tuna and sweetcorn when we had a chat through the bars. I've put tonic in their water but she has put herself to bed early.

 

I will take her to the vet tomorrow, but any advice inthe meantime greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks.

 

[Plum]

One of mine gets very grumpy when moulting and a bit down, it does take it out of them and make them more vulnerable to other problems. I usually use a tonic like lifeguard to give their immunity a boost while moulting.

 

She does sound as though something else may be going on. All I'd do today before getting to vet is to make sure she is drinking and give watery fruit like melon or grapes if not. Offer food and treats as she'll take them. I'd give her a health check too- listen to breathing, check vent, feel abdomen crop legs etc.,

 

Hope she picks up, at least she's not moulting in the middle of winter.

[Mrs Potts]

Hello!

 

Thank you for this, it is all good to know and yes, at least it isn't winter although the garden is beginning to look too autumnal for end of July.

 

I'm beginning to think that Hettie is working through nine lives. She put herself to bed early on Friday, just after I emailed, walking very slowly. She was lying in the nesting box when I last looked at about 10 pm, head resting on the side but quite peaceful and breathing normally, so I gave her a stroke and said goodnight/goodbye and thought she would go during the night.

 

Instead, Hettie sprang out at 7.30 am and delivered two pecks to the others as she ran down to the grub. There was a HUGE poo in the nesting box. Do hens get constipated?! Anyhow, Hettie is acting like nothing happened and today either she has laid an egg or Blossom has laid two. Not sure which is most likely/unlikey, but I am cheered by the thought that it might be Hettie. She has had pellets for breakfast, followed a short while ago by your advice of grapes and small amount of tuna. Their water has drops in it and she is now having a proper dust bath.

 

Phew! Never a dull moment with Hett.

 

 

[Plum]

What a girl! they know how to wind you up glad she's ok

[Egluntyne]

Their behaviour can depend on whether it is a major moult or not. If it is a severe moult, they may stop laying. They can lose the colour in their comb and wattle, which may also shrink. They can stop crouching and become skittish, as they were before they came into lay. Sometimes they can even appear quite ill with it.

 

On the other hand, they might just lose a few feathers around the neck and be totally unfazed by the whole process.

[sandyhas3chucks]

well E covered it all. I have a 2 year 7 months released old girl going through her first real moult at the moment.

She has other problems too, but when ever she is off color for ant reason, I add a little Critical Care Formular to some treaty food for her. I feel that even if she is not eating much he is getting her essentials to help her through.

Another younger and big bird has really been quite poorly looking, and that is just partial regrowth type moult, it's not nice for them is it?

[Mrs Potts]

I think maybe Hettie's grinding to a halt a few weeks ago, when she stopped laying and feeding and being normal Hett, may have been PMT then