The Poultry Keeper

nigel · Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2005 9:34 am Post subject: The Moult

has anyone else noticed a difference in the way different breeds moult. Most of mine do it gradually, but both Wyandottes seemed to dump all their feathers over night. They both look like some reject thing from Sainsburys. Rolling Eyes

Knobby · Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2005 10:20 am Post subject:

Ive never had a chook have a moult.......although one of the Orps had looked rough for most of the summer, it just seemed to be the feathers on her chest that moulted....now theyve all grown back again, and she looks stunning !

CP · Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2005 11:07 am Post subject:

Yes they do vary a bit. Some of mine have hardly lost a feather, but others are very tatty. Embarassed

debcat · Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2005 1:10 pm Post subject:

my trio of dumpy's all look terrible Sad

the marans and sussex you can hardly tell they are moulting

NannyP · Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2005 5:50 pm Post subject:

Mine too, Orps have just looked scruffy and dull, Wyandotte looks very scruffy and is missing a lot of feathering, Welsummer looks very sad and I remember Bracket last year looking like a tiny dinosaur for a while, hardly any feathers at all Wink

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

it must be the year of the big moult! Those of mine that are moulting look very sorry for themselves very tatty ~ especially the wheaten maran and still she treats me to her eggs ~ what a lovely girl she is!

jaydee67 · Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 8:21 pm Post subject:

Wish mine would get over it - I haven't had a hen's egg since I got home! All 4 ducks laid yeasterday though, only 1 egg most days up to now.

NannyP · Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 8:59 pm Post subject:

Hmmmm, I've only been getting one every other day until today, then found 10, stashed elsewhere!! Not sure who they belong to, but have blocked off the alternative areas so hopefully they'll return to the next box Shocked

All 10 were fine, and stayed on the bottom in the jug of cold water. When I cracked them, one had the start of an embryo, which I removed before cooking. Very large bacon and cheese omlette was on the menu this evening Laughing

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

When I found my stash earlier this year my girls were giving me loads of eggs (for which my neighbours will be forever grateful!). I thought to feed them back to the girls so hard boiled them all and gave them three a day mashed up between them. (I had no idea how long they had been there ~ naughty nutmeg after I gave you eggs to sit on too!)
I think I'd be devastated if I found them now ~ only getting 1 - 3 eggs a day out of 21 young ladies ~ however some are till too young to be ladies and some would rather just sit around chattering to themselves.
Hope you enjoyed your omlette.

Aussie Chick · Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 10:05 pm Post subject:

Not sure about the embryo egg but the bacon/egg omelette sounds lovely. Sam made a Spanish omlette the other night, it was amazing! Def on the menu again.

Knobby · Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 10:09 pm Post subject:

Summayah !!!! youve got 21 chooks ! Shocked

NannyP · Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 10:17 pm Post subject:

Naughty Summayah Laughing

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

ssshhh, it's a secret. I don't know how it happened, from 4 to 21 in no time at all! It seemed that everytime I went out to buy feed for them someone put extras in the run, 3 here, 3 there, not to mention the 5 I've hatched and who have thrived. Oh dear, I've hatched more than I started with, and I alwlays insisted I would never to hatch any. I do admit to buying a lovely white orpington girl though ~ Hyacinth by name and not likely to lay till next year.

Knobby · Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 10:46 pm Post subject:

Aussie Chick · Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 10:47 pm Post subject:

LOL!!

I think I would like an Orp. Might hatch some next year.