The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: northfifeduckling on June 14, 2010, 11:18:09 pm

Title: scruffy looking hens
Post by: northfifeduckling on June 14, 2010, 11:18:09 pm
My girls all look very scruffy just now ,mainly on their backs showing the soft white feathers rather than their loveley red, almost as if they'd started to moult. I assume that it has to do with too much attention from the young man in their lives or could it be a symptom of something?  :chook: :chook: :&>
Title: Re: scruffy looking hens
Post by: whitby_sam on June 15, 2010, 08:39:17 am
Mine are the same, it was a rampant spring and I don't think the boys have slowed down much even now. With the confusing weather they could quite easily be going into an early moult. Mine have been off lay a little too!
Title: Re: scruffy looking hens
Post by: Eagledance on June 15, 2010, 12:37:02 pm
My 3 are the same - yet no male to cause any problems!
Have been giving them some chicken spice as a tonic and taken to giving them just layers pellets first thing then scraps later as was worried they weren't getting a balanced ration as they ate the scraps first!

Thought they were moulting but it has been going on for a couple of months and they are still laying!!

ED
Title: Re: scruffy looking hens
Post by: doganjo on June 15, 2010, 03:32:13 pm
Exactly the same here - Jamie has long since gone to his new home, and only soem of mine have that downy look on their backs, adn just in the last couple of weeks so I don't know what is going on.
Title: Re: scruffy looking hens
Post by: northfifeduckling on June 15, 2010, 03:35:15 pm
weird! has that happened in the previous years with yours? First year for me with hens... :&>
Title: Re: scruffy looking hens
Post by: doganjo on June 15, 2010, 03:37:54 pm
Can't remember it happening before.  I did wonder if i could blame the erratic weather ......... ::)
Title: Re: scruffy looking hens
Post by: Helencus on June 15, 2010, 09:06:03 pm
My chicks are definitely moultingvtons of feathers everywhere. I think the ex bats may be starting too. Bit early though isnt it?
Title: Re: scruffy looking hens
Post by: cairnhill on June 15, 2010, 10:48:42 pm
Same here, have now put saddles on them but bit like shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted  :chook: :-\
Title: Re: scruffy looking hens
Post by: northfifeduckling on June 21, 2010, 10:36:13 pm
as 2 of them are broody I could have a closer look, the feathers on the back are definitely broken off about an inch from the root - any suggestions other than boy trouble?  :&> :chook: :chook: :chook: