2009 Omlet cube and run for sale

[Sam]

Hello, at what age do hens moult? I got mine at POL last november & I think one is moulting now. Do they stop laying or lose weight? (shes a hybrid) Thanks

[Redwing]

They normally do stop laying but not always. Some will drop lots of feathers all at once and others will replace feathers gradually so you barely notice until they are all shiny and new looking

 

They should moult anytime from now till December but you get the odd one with a dodgy internal clock

[Sam]

Thanks Redwing!

 

Said chicken has been taken to the vet & been pts I think she was molting, but her loss of weight was due to egg peritonitis... it's so annoying that I read about it on the forum many times but didn't even consider that Apparently she had a large lump next to her vent and she was very skinny, which was the main reason for the vet visit. Feel bad now, I just assumed she stopped laying because she was molting... bye bye Marmite

[WitchHazel]

Sorry to hear about Marmite

[Egghead68]

So sorry for your loss.

 

I have one with peritonitis who I also thought had stopped laying due to moulting - it's an easy assumption to make.

[Sam]

Thanks for the comments, and you're right egghead, I would never have suspected it was peritonitis

[Luvachicken]

Sorry to read about poor Marmite.