windway Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 Hi. My two chickens ,who we got at POL a year and a half ago, have started to moult - or that's what I think is happening! They have not moulted before. There seems to be small feathers in the run and each day it seems to be more and more. The Bluebell doesn't look as if she's moulting - but there are plenty of her feathers about. My Wellsummer has got a bald undercarriage! They have also stopped laying about three weeks ago. They have been brilliant layers even through the winter. So what's going on??? Anyone else been through this? I thought it might be this glorious summer weather we are having (not!) having tricked the girls into thinking it's Autumn??! We introduced two new girls about 2 weeks ago - so I'm not convinced it's their effect on them as they stopped laying just before they arrived. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 Yes I have one little lady moulting at the moment, checked her over and can see all the new feathers coming through. It's weird as they are really sharp to touch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohcarolina Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 Me too! Got some new ex-FR girls a few weeks ago and the garden is strewn with feathers and the girls are all baldy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
windway Posted June 17, 2012 Author Share Posted June 17, 2012 Thanks for your replies. Glad to know I'm not on my own here! Have they stopped laying too? Both mine stopped at roughly the same time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 Not sure if stopped laying as I average five eggs a day from nine girls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan08 Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 I have two hybrids, Gingernut and a Bluebell, same age as yours going through a "slow moult" I believe. They have lost feathers on the neck in a line going down to their chest, new feathers are starting to come through slowly. They are both laying pretty well at the moment, whether they will speed up and drop the lot i don't know. look pretty mangy at the moment, but are happy enough and chickening about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted June 18, 2012 Share Posted June 18, 2012 As it's tummy feathers they have lost, I wonder if they are going broody? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 18, 2012 Share Posted June 18, 2012 It could be anything TBH; some hens lose tummy feathers when they are broody, some just lose them when it is hot and they want to cool down. The recent cooler snap and fewer daylight hours when it was raining has prompted one of mine to start a moult and the lawn is lettered with her feathers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
windway Posted June 18, 2012 Author Share Posted June 18, 2012 I guess that if it was broodyness then they would be sitting on the nest? They are not going anywhere neer it!. So good to know that ours are not the only ones moulting. I had a good look today and I can see what looks like new feathers coming through. No sign of mites or creepies so that's good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
percy049 Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 A few of mine have been loosing a few feathers recently. One still has a bald belly from when she was broody last year! It doesn't help that she lost a few feathers last month too - you can actually see a bald patch on her crop Another one of our hens also has no tummy feathers, but has been having problems recently Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fantasticjudyann Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 Yes I am having the same trouble with two of mine. They are about 9 months old and seem to be moulting for the first time. But only two are affected- the White Star and the Bluebelle. The Speckledy who was broody about two weeks ago has not lost any feathers at all. They are all still laying. What is going on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 Rubbish English 'summer', that's what! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
percy049 Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 Rubbish English 'summer', that's what! I'm sure that is messing up their egg laying! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohcarolina Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 I agree - I'm lucky to get 4 eggs a day from 12 hens. What is going on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
windway Posted June 20, 2012 Author Share Posted June 20, 2012 Well I got one egg the day before yesterday - wehey - but ohhhhhhhhh nothing since that - two days of heat and now a few days of torrential rain and storms to come - bet the chickens are going to love that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
windway Posted June 26, 2012 Author Share Posted June 26, 2012 Wehey all chickens are back laying! Anyone else having a good week? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlisonH Posted June 26, 2012 Share Posted June 26, 2012 Mine have less feathers by the day on their tummies - they're losing a few every now and again and they don't really seem to be growing back but they both seem well, are checked regularly and they're both laying daily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carolemagic Posted June 28, 2012 Share Posted June 28, 2012 OMG I just went out to put my Miss Pepperpot back in, as she had escaped from their run and when I picked her up I found to my horror that her chest is completely bare. I thought when I saw her this morning that she looked a bit bedraggled but thought it was the rain. After reading the above messages I have checked and no sign yet of new feathers. Is this a moult or might it be something else? We had the hens last July POL and nohen has moulted yet. I am concerned that I am a bad 'hen mother' and have done something wrong... Help!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 28, 2012 Share Posted June 28, 2012 It'll just be her way of cooling down, I wouldn't worry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carolemagic Posted June 28, 2012 Share Posted June 28, 2012 Thank you for your prompt reply. She looks well and has laid her egg today so I am hoping nothing much is wrong... Hens can be such a worry when everything that happens is your first time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
windway Posted June 28, 2012 Author Share Posted June 28, 2012 One of mine had a very red and bare belly and all of a sudden she seems to have new feathers growing thick and fast. I'm sure they were not there a couple of days ago! Funny creatures! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carolemagic Posted June 28, 2012 Share Posted June 28, 2012 This is very reassuring. It is not nice seeing your hen look like she is oven ready, not nice at all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
