Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[kyz1981]

Hi I am a chicken Newbie with a lovely young flock of 6 mixed chickens.

 

2 Cochins

1 Welsummer

1 Araucana

and 2 hybrids, a spekledy and a blue ranger.

 

all purchased for the same place at the same time and all vaxed.

 

 

When I got my Cochin Marli she had no feathers under her wings, she has been dusted for Mites (all my girls have), and the breeder says she is Molting before coming into lay, she is getting much redder and her wattles are starting to grow.

 

My other hens are molting (they are moth eaten with baby feathers coming out) but no where near as much as Marli, they just look untidy, Marli often will snooze more than the others, is this normal? all I can find is information for Molting for laying birds, nothing about junior Molts, she is eating and is inquisitive she just seems to be suffering so much more than my other girls.

 

they have been on respite for 3 days after being a bit sneezy after I got them, this is cleared and they are all bright eyed with no sneezing or discharge, I have put a link up to a pic of Marli she looks like a porcupine at the moment.every part of her body has these white feather type needles.

 

She is also a lot smaller than my other cochin.

 

I have given them some scrambled egg with meal worms, dusted with some poultry spice and nutri drops, but only have given this twice a week as I did not want to give them too much protein, They free range and are on growers pellets. I have stopped giving corn and tend only to give mealworms and grapes in the evening as a treat.

 

 

I have put a link in of some pics, there are a few more of Marli.

 

 

 

Just looking for advice as to what to do/give/expect from experienced members that have been through a molt like this with a young bird.

[Redwing]

I think its doubtful that she is moulting so dramatically at her age, its more likely that she hasnt grown her full feathers yet. Late feathering on the sides and back normally indicates a male, its very classic of a young cockerel but she doesnt look very cockerel like

 

Personally I would put it down to Cochins being a very late maturing breed for now and see what the future brings

 

I dont think its a sign of any problems health wise

[kyz1981]

Thanks for the reply - she does appear to break the mold a bit... It would not be the end of the world if she was a he, as next door have a really loud Roo and being rural people expect it.

 

Its really reassuring to know that its not a health problem and could be just Marli!? Time will tell, but thanks again for replying has really put my mind at rest.