The Poultry Keeper

chickenrun · Joined: 11 Jun 2008 Posts: 19 Location: Cotswolds

Hi

Ive got a couple of questions....

My Lovely little pekin has been in moult for the last 10days and shes starting to look abit scraggy now?!! Smile

Do you advise I give her anything?

Is there anything I can give my chooks now? As they have stopped laying (along with my white sussex who I only managed to get 2 eggs from so far!!)

I give them poultry spice in the water and swap this for garlic every other week along with layers pellets and a handful of corn every day.

Should I stop layers pellets now?
Also is it ok for my cockerel to eat the layers pellets too or should he be on something else?

Do they need any special lighting in the winter months or heating if they are in there shed in the garden over the colder months? Daft I maybe but I dont want them to get too cold LOL!! Laughing

Sorry for all the questions its my first winter with chooks!!

Thanks

kated · Joined: 01 Nov 2006 Posts: 2089 Location: norfolk

Hi Chickenrun

Just carry on as you are doing. Chickens in moult look dreadful but it's a natural process and they will need no special treatment. Your cockerel can have layers pellets too - it's fine for males and females.

They don't need extra heating in the winter just make sure the house is draught proof but ventilated - even more important in the winter as condensation can cause mould growth in the house if it's badly ventilated.

Finally, you haven't asked any daft questions - all sensible ones so far Very Happy

Teasal · Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 9:49 pm Post subject:

I have a a lot of hens, and a lot are moulting, so I have a lot of feathers, and a lot of scrawny looking hens. It will take a while but they will all look beautiful and start laying again!!

My cockerels do not seem to like layers pellets, so I throw a handful of mixed corn down for them as well, but if I didn;'t I assume they would eat the pellets when they are hungry. I continue with the layers pellets even when the hens are moulting and not laying. Also give them ACV and poultry spice to help them a long a bit in winter.

Chris Kurzfeld · Joined: 29 Oct 2007 Posts: 1712 Location: Carmarthenshire

Our coops and runs look like there have been a few pillow fights Laughing

- feathers everywhere, plus quite a few scraggy birds. Some are in full moult, some half and the newbies not at all. Growing feathers back requires alot of protien, which is why they stop laying, so I help mine by giving them some beef cat food (tinned) or scrambled/boiled eggs (with shells baked and crushed in) or sunflower seeds or soya - all high in protien - about twice a week whilst they are moulting. I also give poultry spice, ACV, Orego-Stim and garlic. We live quite high up so, in winter, i tend to give mine a little more mixed corn before they go to bed to help keep them warm.