The Poultry Keeper

jodda · Joined: 12 Jul 2006 Posts: 5

Hello!
I'm new to this site. I have three chickens, all one year old now, two Speckledy's and one Calder Ranger.
One of the Speckledy's and the Calder Ranger have recently lost a lot of feathers. The Calder Ranger has lost the most - mainly her breast feathers where she is quite bare breasted. The remaining speckledy is fine - no loss at all.
The speckledy with feather loss is laying about 4-5 eggs a week, but the CR has not laid for a few weeks now. Is this a moult?
We have dusted them for lice, sprayed them for red mite and treated the house and blowtorched all the nooks and crannies in the hen house. They have an organic pellet diet and free range in the garden. They also have daily greens. They all seem absolutely fine in themselves, despite the appearance of the two with missing feathers.
Can anyone of you experienced people help please?
Thanks,
Jodda.

debcat · Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 7:19 pm Post subject:

it sounds like the moult to me
They tend to look like hedgehogs when the feathers start coming back through (the spines show first)
Are they still laying as much or have they slowed down?
If they are otherwise healthy I wouldn't worry too much

CP · Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 7:24 pm Post subject:

Hi & welcome to the site jodda.

If you've checked for parasites & not found any then that's obviously not the problem.

It could be the moult starting - some of mine have begun to lose feathers already.

Another explanation could be if they have gone broody. Are they sitting on the nest a lot & making complaining noises when you look & try to remove them?

Either way, it's a natural thing & nothing to worry about.

Hope that helps a bit. Wink

debcat · Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 7:25 pm Post subject:

forgot to say that a full blown moult does look really scary the first time you see it

skye girl · Joined: 27 Aug 2005 Posts: 638 Location: Isle of skye

welcome, about the right age for a good moult

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

Hello and welcome to the forum, like everyone else says they're probably going in to moult ~ mine all did it between 12 -13 months of age.

jodda · Joined: 12 Jul 2006 Posts: 5

Hi fellow chuckers!
thanks for the advice. Yes, it does look scary, - the Calder Ranger is starting to look positively oven-ready around the breast. I had another good look at her last night and she is also very red in this area. Is this consistent with moult symptoms? I read an earlier post where for this problem, ACV and purple spray were recommended.
Can anyone let me know what and where I can get these items from? I know that ACV is Apple Cider Vinegar, but is this a special type, or can I just use my organic culinary cider vinegar?
Answers will be much appreciated. Thanks for your time.
By the way, great site - I'm so glad I found you all. Will post a picture of my young ladies soon!
jodda. x

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

ACV ~ the one you would try to use with the chickens is usually available from horsey type outlets. It's cloudy and cheaper than from the health outlets. The first lot I got was from Higher Nature ~ it was very cloudy but also expensive. But for a few girls it wouldn't be too excessive.
Purple spray is gentian violet spray and you should be able to get that from where you get your feed, maybe pet shops, but also feed merchants. You can also get it on line from domestic fowl trust.
I look forward to your pictures, thanks

Nursie · Joined: 29 Jan 2006 Posts: 162

On this subject, some of mine are moulting for the first time and it seems to be taking an awfully long time.

How long, on average, does a moult take??

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

I don't think there is an average. Some will drop all the feathers almost in one go ~ ready for the oven as it were and then the feathers regrow. Others seem to take forever, just dropping a few at a time. Just make sure they have access to grit etc and are getting a good diet, suplemented with such as acv at regular intervals, just to minimise the stress for them

jodda · Joined: 12 Jul 2006 Posts: 5

Once again, thanks for advice. Sorry to be a pain, I have another question!

Following all your advice, I went to my feed place and purchased some ACV and some Aloe Vera purple spray. Both items have pictures of horses on them, although the very helpful lady at the feed place says she uses both for her chucks and regularly sells them to other chuck owners.
Problem is, I don't know how much ACV to put into their water I have just the three little girls - oh, and the feeder is galvanized - I think I heard that this makes a difference!
I can work out the spray for myself and will just lightly spray the red looking bare patches. Can't wait! Psychedelic hens!!!!!
Thanks again,
jodda.x

nigel · Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 5:07 pm Post subject:

The ACV should be used at 2% (20ml to 1 litre.) As the Cider Vinegar is acidic you can't use it in metallic containers it slowly corrodes them Shocked

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

Ideally you need a plastic drinker, so that you can give it to the girls 7 days a month for optimum results. In the meantime do you have any bowls of anything other than metal that you could put the water/acv in?

jodda · Joined: 12 Jul 2006 Posts: 5

Many, many thanks to all of you who took the time to read my plight (or that of my chucks) and advise me.
Hugely appreciated!
jodda.x

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

No problem, please keep us updated on how they are doing