The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: valr on May 29, 2010, 08:39:51 pm

Title: Feathers everywhere
Post by: valr on May 29, 2010, 08:39:51 pm

Hi all  :wave:
This is my first year keeping chickens.
For a couple of days now there have been loads of white feathers lying around - I only have 1 white chicken so I know they are coming from Attila the Hen.  :chook:
I was worried the others might have been attacking her but I have seen no evidence of that.
I noticed her preening herself tonight and she pulled out a couple of her own feathers.
Is this anything to worry about or is she just moulting?  ??? 

Title: Re: Feathers everywhere
Post by: doganjo on May 29, 2010, 08:54:12 pm

Unless she is actually self harming by pecking herself as well as preening, no.  She is just moulting.

Title: Re: Feathers everywhere
Post by: Daveravey on May 29, 2010, 09:00:44 pm

I thought hens went through the moult in the autumn, maybe i'm wrong   :-\

Title: Re: Feathers everywhere
Post by: doganjo on May 29, 2010, 09:15:59 pm

Well mine are moulting just now.

Title: Re: Feathers everywhere
Post by: valr on May 29, 2010, 09:51:47 pm

Thanks Annie. How much do they lose? She won't go bald will she?  :o :o :o

Title: Re: Feathers everywhere
Post by: doganjo on May 29, 2010, 10:31:58 pm

No, but they do look like they will when you see how many feathers are lying around  ::)

Title: Re: Feathers everywhere
Post by: Sharondp on May 30, 2010, 08:50:56 am

I think the moult is an annual event particular to each chicken, depending on how old it is. That is, not the same time for every hen. I may be wrong of course... :-\

Title: Re: Feathers everywhere
Post by: jacob and Georgina on May 30, 2010, 05:04:26 pm

my 7 hens are undergoing a heavy moult now, finding feathers everywhere!!

Title: Re: Feathers everywhere
Post by: plumseverywhere on May 31, 2010, 08:49:50 am

She's not going broody is she Val? one of my speckeldey's is broody (unfortunately because we are not having any fertile eggs this year due to too many kinds of baby animals here as it is!!)
she has pulled our her chest feathers and lined her nest which i keep turfing her out of an dcooling her down. her chest looks quite 'oven ready' at the moment!!

Title: Re: Feathers everywhere
Post by: valr on May 31, 2010, 08:54:01 pm

Hi she's not showing signs of going broody - but my broody pekin (3 weeks and counting) has a baldy breast too ... feels weird when I pick her up!
My neighbours dad came round to see them today - turns out he is a retired vet who used to specialise in birds including chickens! He gave them a check over and said they were fine healthy girls   ;D ;D ;D :farmer: