The effects of moulting

[elmwood]

Hi,

I prepared myself for our chickens first moult. It hasn't been as drastic as I imagined....bald girls etc....

BUT they are SO miserable, decidedly evil, and very confused. I have a gold birchen pekin who literally looks as though she is going to keel over. When I pick her up, she protests so much- I understand the new "pin" feathers cause pain when coming through. Naturally I am limiting my handling of her, but I wanted to make sure she had no lice or mites etc, as she has been so off colour. Now my D'uccle is miserable. She is more confused. She has lost the most feathers, firstly all her tail, which are now growing back, followed by her "flight "?feathers - (the long ones). I have noticed that they lose a lot for a week or so, then nothing for a couple of weeks, then it all happens again. Is it meant to be in stages?

So have we all got miserable moulting hens, and just how difficult is it for them?
What puzzles me is why they moult at this time of year, when you would expect it to be early Summer? Surely they need as much feather bulk as possible?

I am beginning to think these poor hens have so much to contend with its a wonder we get any eggs at all.....

Would be nice to hear what others members experiences have been......

 

[Davidd]

Hello, moulting is a very stressful time- most hens look miserable during it so yours are not alone. They will pick up once the new feathers are established. Try to keep their protein level up- feed them a high protein pellet/meal. Some hens drop lots of feathers in one go- you open the shed in the morning to what looks like a burst pillow Others do it more slowly. Normally hens will also have a full moult after raising chicks and will not moult again until the following Autumn. They moult in the Autumn because that is after the breeding season and just before the really cold weather sets in - therefore they have a brand new "duvet" for the winter.
regards, David

 

[elmwood]

Many thanks David,
That throws more light on the matter. As for stepping up the protein, I have been giving them cat food on a weekly basis, I bought pouches, which they love (tuna & Jelly). They have got tnoic and crushed garlic in their water. As for the pellets, they don't seem to care much for this new batch. We usually have smallholder, but we have bought Wynstay's own pellets. I am mixing poultry spice into it too.

So should I abandon this sack of 20kg pellets and go for a "Garvo" bag, which I can get from the net. A local stockist is further away, and the cost of petrol versus postage wouldn't be effective.

Any advice as to which Garvo pellets I should buy?

Thanks Sharron