Unsecure chicken perches

[auntielizzie]

Poor Bessie is still moulting. She's lost all her beautiful tail feathers now, as well as her fluffy knickers and half of her petticoats. She's lost over half of her lovely sussex necklaces and her wings are very raggy too. She looks a bit bedraggled to say the least - and just to add to the effect, she had a very long and obviously enjoyable dust bath this morning

 

Just checked the calendar and its only been about three weeks It seems like forever since she's laid me any of her lovely little eggs and if she carries on like this she's going to be barely there I hope she's not getting chilly.

 

Ive been trying to feed her extra treats like mealworms and some nice Garvo mixed corn plus a few worms, but of course Betty then wants it too, so we're getting back into the cycle of her not eating pellets in preference of treats and all that silly business Ive been adding poultry spice powder to their food too.

 

I can see the new feathers coming through underneath, which is a good sign. Anyone got any tips as to how I can feed Bessie up a bit more to help her, or am I doing OK with what I am giving already?

[mollyripkim]

Sounds like you are doing everything right, I have a bantam Orpington who started a moult mid September and from a beautiful rounded girl she ended up looking skinny and bedraggled with a completely bare bottom. I could see the new feathers in their white shafts growing through and now she has a lovely fluffy bum but still a tatty head, neck, again I can see the feathers growing so it reassures me that is what it is. She is not laying either and was a bit quieter than usual but ok now. Can you see the new feathers growing?

[mollyripkim]

Sorry just noticed you can see the feathers so I am sure she will be fine.

[clucker1]

Hmmm...know what you mean! Mine are on poultry spice too...it does seem to be perking them up.

[calmbreeze]

our white sussex lost every feather and looked very oven ready!!!

 

we were told to give her poultry spice and anything rich in protein. we gave her diced cheese and mealworms as a treat and every other day porridge, all of which she loved. the feathers seemed to come through quick, then stopped and then all of a sudden she looked very white and beautiful again!! xx

 

major the cockeral and his majorettes . ..

aggie, gladys, mable, connie