patsylabrador Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 My chickens have started moulting. Obviously they've done this before but not very much to be honest, I've never seen bare skin on them but this time Hermione especially is looking a bit oven-ready. I'm a little bit scared because they are 5 yrs old and don't feel as insouciant about my girls as normal. I read online that it's a good idea to give them dried catfood to replace protein. I have some for our stray cat but thought I'd check in first. What do you think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 There are lots of posts that say give them cat food. I think it should be ok as long as you don't give them too much. You can also give them sunflower seeds, cottage cheese and yoghurt. Some tonics are good for feather re growth, but I'm not sure which one in the best. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Oo I forgot, hard boiled eggs. They love them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 tuna (in spring water) goes down a treat too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wez Posted September 1, 2014 Share Posted September 1, 2014 One of our Pekin's started mid July and looks very sorry for herself as so scraggy! We don't know how old she is as we found her at the side of a road (don't ask and yes, we did try to locate where she'd come from but there was nothing for miles and she had been attacked by something hence we kept her and then ended up with a Cube and 4 more Pekins ... !). She's eating and drinking but I was wondering about the benefit of giving her something like Nutri Drops but seeing the tuna idea I might go there instead. Also, is it normal for her to keep laying softies every few days though? I guess it's because of the protein use for new feathers and she's ok in herself but every few days we get one and I don't know if its ok for them to continue? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted September 1, 2014 Share Posted September 1, 2014 Softies are better than getting bunged up. Try to increase her protein intake, also calcium, but not too much. If she looks a bit sorry for herself nutri drops should give her a boost. It's difficult if you don't know her age. She might actually be coming up to the end of her laying days. Has she been wormed? If so a good tonic will do her good and maybe some pro biotic yogurt. Get all the good bacteria working in her tummy. I keep going on about this, but sunflower seeds are very high in selenium and protein, very important to our birds, and they love them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted September 1, 2014 Share Posted September 1, 2014 Also a few pine nuts - but they have to be a real treat - have you seen how much they are?!!!! A good one is to put cod liver oil with the tuna - and I mix up their tea corn with it as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wez Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 Thanks all Yes , all wormed regularly and they're on good quality pellets and have grit and oyster shell available at all times. Thankfully she's ok in herself and her new feathers are coming in with a vengeance but I'm going to lay on a tuna treat later. I've been giving them black sunflower seeds on and off throughout the summer but will just see if I can give her (and the others who I'm sure won't mind!) a bit of a boost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizzieLloyd Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 Ive always found tuna works a treat for building up the protein levels in a heavy moult. Poor little things - it must be very painful for them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
