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11:23 am
December 28, 2008
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We are having our first true molting event here! The girls look so pitiful. As does the roo.
Rather glad that this is happening before serious cold weather gets here. Kinda worried last winter because it was so terribly cold. There was a little bit of molting then, but nothing like this!
It all started when the roo broke all his beautiful tail feathers! Then his neck feathers and finally his head. Of course, my default position was to worry that he'd contracted some horrid skin disease…
This is just fascinating! (Have we told you lately that having chickens is more entertaining than TV?) Can hardly wait to see what they look like tomorrow, or even later today!
3:26 pm
November 9, 2010
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We have a pretty good moult going on. Its not with my hens but my roo…he is pretty pathetic looking!
3:59 pm
December 28, 2008
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See how new we are to all this? I can't even SPELL it correctly!!
Moulting. Moulting. MOULTING!
5:02 pm
November 9, 2010
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Dont take it as I spelled it correctly!!
I cant get my own name out most of the time with out having to double check!
7:41 pm
February 20, 2011
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if you are fairly new to chickens don't be alarmed to find your egg production drop while the girls are in their molt. you will also find when they start laying again their eggs will be bigger and fewer.
11:37 pm
December 8, 2010
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When my girls moulted last year I fed them Elk and Deer (venison) scraps ground up so the moult would go faster and easier. If you use something like that it goes easier for them. Don't forget that feathers are ALL protein and in the winter the ground is usually frozen and no worms are up. So, I feed about a pound of ground meat daily for them to get a little in addition to their diet.
6:00 am
February 10, 2009
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My egg production is so low it's pitiful just now that it's laughable. For me it's a combination of some moulting, but mostly the fact that my once best layers are getting old, my new kids aren't old enough to lay yet, and they haven't really adjusted to the darker days. I can't bring myself to buy hamburger for them, but I don't hesitate to give them leftover meat. Some people swear by feeding cat kibble for extra protein, but beware of too much sodium!!!! Salt is a real danger for chickens, they don't have a way to filter it from their system so it can kill them and some cat food is high in salt… which seems odd since salt isn't all that good for cats either!
8:26 am
December 28, 2008
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Oh, my – if their eggs get any bigger – well, I can't even think about that!! They already barely fit into regular egg cartons… 
They seem to be getting plenty of protein. So far. But will see what we can find to supplement that for them. We just have to be very careful with that sort of thing so as not to attract unwanted critters from the woods.
11:10 am
April 8, 2010
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Our 5 hens are moulting too-feathers everywhere. Hope they fluff up soon before it gets too chilly.
7:47 am
November 20, 2009
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Just in reminder to newer folks, don't forget to check for lice or feather mites, they can make a chicken look as if it is moulting. If you check under the wings or around the vent you will see these nasty little grey things at the base of the feathers. Sorry to bring up the nasties but the poor chickens won't be able to replace their feathers if they are infested.
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