Claireabella Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 Bluebell is 2 1/2 and has never had a moult. I assume this is the wrong time of year to moult (isn't it usually autumn time?) so I was wondering if the heat could be the reason she is losing feathers? She is definitely not being pecked or picked on; the feathers are just falling off her Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 if it looks like there has been a pillow fight then, yes that's a moult Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 I've got 5 that are moulting at the moment 2 are cockerels one always starts late June early July (he was hatched in early July) and will take the rest of the year the others are just over a year old so it's their first adult moult I find that they first moult starts around the anniversary of their hatch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claireabella Posted July 22, 2014 Author Share Posted July 22, 2014 Yes, looks like there's been a pillow fight in the cube and the run! You will be able to make a good pillow with all those feathers sjp! Thanks for putting my mind at rest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coco Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 I've fot a few than are moulting, feathers everywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted July 25, 2014 Share Posted July 25, 2014 My maran started early this year at the beginning of June. She now has new tail feathers but one old one sticking up like a flagpole! Have noticed the pekin is dropping feathers now. Seems to be getting earlier every year, last time it was August when the shedding started. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted July 25, 2014 Share Posted July 25, 2014 My pekins are moulting but as they're only 18 weeks old I assume that's just them maturing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claireabella Posted July 25, 2014 Author Share Posted July 25, 2014 Nice to know I'm not alone It seems that both Bluebell and Barbara have had a partial moult (Bluebell more so than Barbara) and have lots of new pin feathers coming through. Unfortunately, Bluebell has sustained a leg injury She was fine one minute and limping the next. The only thing I can think of is that I bought an old picnic bench onto the lawn and she's jumped up to get spiders or whatever was lurking underneath and landed on her leg a bit awkwardly. She's a big girl (2.6KG) so she should really know better than to try jumping for bugs! I've given her a thorough check over feeling both legs to the hip and checked her feet and can't feel or see any obvious breaks or swelling but she is limping. She's putting weight on her leg, scratching on the floor with it and I saw her scratch under her chin with it too, so I don't think anything is broken or dislocated, maybe twisted or sprained. Strangely, she laid some soft shelled eggs a few months ago and then stopped laying and I thought she had come to the end of her laying days but she has layed an egg for the last three days I wish she had waited until after she had finished moulting and growing new feathers...she obviously hasn't read the chicken manual Can anyone please recommend any good supplements to her diet for moulting and coming back into lay and perhaps something that might help her leg injury heal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SueChick Posted July 26, 2014 Share Posted July 26, 2014 Hi - I have posted a thread about calcium deficiency causing limping - could be related if she has started laying again - mine were laying but could barely stand and the vet said they take the calcium out of their own muscles and bones to make the egg shells. She recommended limestone flour - 1 teaspoon - bought from the local horse feed supplier. It worked super quickly. As to the feather regrowth - I have always used a tin of tuna in spring water. Hope thus helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claireabella Posted July 26, 2014 Author Share Posted July 26, 2014 Thank you She is managing very well, still dust bathing, walking around and scratching about with just a bit of a hobble today. And she layed another egg too! I'll see if I can get my hands on some limestone flour and I'll up her protein a little. I think her limping was caused by an injury but I guess could also be connected to her laying again. Hopefully her leg will get better with a little rest, just got to try and tell her that - she's a right bossy madam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 27, 2014 Share Posted July 27, 2014 They will lose a few breast feathers in the heat as it helps them to keep cooler. Having said that, if you have lots f feathers around, then it will be a moult... we had a couple of cooler days two or so weeks back, and that was enought o start one of my Marans bantams off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jesschicken24 Posted July 27, 2014 Share Posted July 27, 2014 I think my silkies are having some kind of mini moult, there are plenty of feathers in the run and all over the grass. Mine are only 21 weeks old but there are no bald patches or anything and they don't seem to be missing them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claireabella Posted July 27, 2014 Author Share Posted July 27, 2014 My Daisy is a white Silkie; she's around 23 weeks now. She has also been losing feathers occasionally but not really enough to be a proper moult and she's never had any bald patches either. I just put it down to the growing process Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbietabby Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 Phew - glad to hear it;s not just me. Mine (blackrock, rhodie and bluebelle) all seemed to be moulting a bit last week, but I coulnd;t see any agression. Now that we;ve cooled off a little, the feather loss seems to have stopped. I must have been hot wearing a duvet.... Debbie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
