jackian Posted February 8, 2014 Share Posted February 8, 2014 After being concerned about Bonnie feeling sorry for herself this last couple of weeks and not laying for a week ,this morning she is moulting suddenly ..A nice pillow being filled with ginger feathers. This is the first time in 3 years that we have had a serious moult . my question is Clover the old girl is following behind eating them all with relish . No treats for her today she won't need them Is this OK? I know they have protein but can she have to many and will she get a taste for them and start feather pecking ? Jackie x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi5 Posted February 8, 2014 Share Posted February 8, 2014 I would keep an eye on it if I were you. I'm just encountering a feather eater/pecker for the first time and I think moulting did start the whole thing!!! I have one pekin with next to no tail (what's worse is she let her sister do it!!) I've had to, as a last resort separate the offending hen Then the gauntlet of intros all over again If it's not a daft question.....isn't it late/early to be moulting????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted February 8, 2014 Share Posted February 8, 2014 it's not unusual for them to eat the feather during a moult as they are a good source or protein and they need the extra when moulting mimi5 it could be a bit late but this last autumn/winter as been a weird one all my mob were finished by new year it's been late January up to now my CLB rusty didn't start till Christmas and was laying a week after new year not bad for a five year old Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted February 8, 2014 Share Posted February 8, 2014 I had the opposite. One was getting her neck feathers pulled out so she was like a Naked Neck. Suddenly they all started moulting (just last month) and the feather pecking stopped . Nowt so queer as chickens . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackian Posted February 8, 2014 Author Share Posted February 8, 2014 Thanks for your replies. I will keep an eye on it. Amazing how quickly clover can swallow a feather . ..length ways . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Electricbarbarella Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 mine did the same, I thought we had a major feather eating problem, they all looked like naked necks, then they malted (neighbour accused me of neglecting them) and then they all grew back and now have gorgeous plummage and no featther plucking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 Perhaps at the start of the moult the feathers irritate them. Apache always used to pluck out her own feathers from her chest but scoff the ones already shed from the other girls. Might also be something to do with how they drop feathers - gradually or big bald patches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
