[plumseverywhere]

Morning!

One of my Bovans Goldlines is going through one of the heaviest moults I think I've ever seen. She's lost all tail and wing feathers and is looking quite 'oven ready'. They are just finishing their flubenvet and I was advised not to feed anything else during that time so that they get the right dose. Is there anything I can give soon as its finished the course to help as she is shivering  if i put a cardi on her will it impede the natural regrowth of feathers by confusin nature? The cockerel is putting his wing over her and she stands underneath him but I'm a bit worried!

[in the hills]

   Hi Plums


A lot of my hens look awful. Mine have always tended to moult gradually and never had that oven- ready look but this year they seem to be having a really heavy moult and losing feathers over a shorter time span ....... no tails and areas with just new quills showing. Strangely enough a neighbour and my father's hens have all done the same thing. Could it be the weather? Or maybe the age of the hens? Don't know?


I was reading an article about ex-batts the other day and it was giving advise as to how to care for them in winter given that they don't have many feathers. It said that chickens were like hot houses and they would cope even in winter and did not need little jumpers or the like ..... these would impede new feather growth. It talked of a good diet etc. and also said that a little extra protein could help with the growth of new feathers. So I suppose meal worms, cooked mashed egg, etc.


I can't say that any of mine actually look cold though    I think a little maize thrown to them in winter is supposed to generate heat and keep them warm at night so maybe that would help. Only a bit though as think it can make them fat!!!!  [size=78%]    [/size]

[jaykay]

Awww, how cute of the cockerel 

I don't think a woolly vest would hurt, no point her actually shivering - I wouldn't want to be outside without plenty on at the moment!

Maize generates heat, and poultry spice or Battles poultry tonic in the water, will give them the minerals they may need to grow the new feathers. They need quite high protein levels too, so a growers' pellet rather than a layers one isn't a bad idea for a while.

[Buffy the eggs layer]

Hi
  feather growth requires lots of protein so scrambled egg, tuna, cheese or a bit of cat food mixed up with some porrige and corn would help. Mmm delicious! Hi protein feed such as ex-bat pelets or breeders ration would work too.
Corn and porrige will also provide heat and energy. When the feathers come through they feel uncomfortable and I think this is another reason why they look a bit hunched and miserable when they are moulting heavily. Some people put knitted jumpers or fleece capes on them or even treading saddles if the weathers bad.
 
 

[plumseverywhere]

Thank you for all of the suggestions - really useful    The flube finishes tonight so I can start giving them some nice protein rich treats as of the morning!!

[NormandyMary]

Ive had a problem with my girls for some time now. My light sussex girlies were losing feather on their backs and I thought they were moulting but it turned out to be Jethro having his wicked way with them far too often. My bluebells have just finished their quick moult and now have beautiful feather coats, but the sussex girls have now started their moult too. They are looking so scraggly and they have taken themselves off to the second henhouse away from the other girls and Jethro. Consequently, the feathers they lost through Jethro have started to grow back with the new plumage. Why oh why do chooks decide to lose their feathers when it gets cold? They really dont have a lot of common sense do they. At least the new coats are growing back quite quickly, so hopefully Ill start to get at least a couple of eggs a day. I hate not having my own and having to buy them!

[hughesy]

Our LS and RIR have suffered from bare backs from cockerel damage too. They stopped laying about a month ago and went into a general moult. Some of them looked really awful for a while but I'm happy to say they've all grown new plumage now and are looking really good. Don't spose we'll see any eggs until the new year now though.

[northfifeduckling]

I bought a saddle just in case we will get any case of oven-readyness again...they are also available with wing protection. The material on ours is some kind of fleece, so looks really warm. I don't think feather growth is inhibited by a cover. I hope all goes well for her 

[plumseverywhere]

Just had a close look at her and its amazing what 24 hours can do! she has loads of new feather growth - its still at that icky purple spikey stage (I don't know why but it makes me cringe a bit!) so its good news for her - especially as the cockerel who was keeping her warm had to be PTS by my hubby and dad earlier 

[jaykay]

She might need a 'cover' of some sort, those blood-rich quills are very tempting to her friends and you don't want them pulling them all out just as she's re-growing 

[plumseverywhere]

I'll pull an old baby cardi out of the drawer tomorrow and convert it into a chook cover then, thanks Jaykay.  Bought some growers pellets today  and will be feeding them some protein rich foods soon as this flub finishes - seems to last forever!

[jaykay]

  Make sure you take a photo 

[happygolucky]

Ours are looking rough now but not as bad as they have done previousely, I had one bare and starting to bleed 2 years ago, I did think about putting it out of its misery but she looked better and then get to look great, I now do not worry as that was the worse and lowest temp when I had hens with the fewest feathers, they soon grown back  but I hate people who are not chicken keepers seeing them as they look un looked after!!   

[sabrina]

Mine are in the same state, they are spending most of their time in the barn to stay warm. I am giving them  added poultry drink in their water and  mixed corn to encourage them to eat.

[happygolucky]

I am so happy to be back I forgot to add, mine are not eating much at all, thier food consumption has gone right down,,,,