Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: CattinJ on March 19, 2010, 16:19
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Hi,
we got our ex bats in August and 2 of them are feathering up really well.
One however is still looking very straggly. Her wing feathers still havent returned completely and her flanks and shoulder blades are patchy with slightly matted/stunted looking downy feathers.
She seems fine in every other respect. Very lively, hungry, top of the pecking order and a regular layer.
I wondered if there is anything else I can do to encourage better feather growth?
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We got 4 ex-batts about a year ago and one of them never really feathered up as much as the others. She always had a lot of white down feathers but didn't grow back some underneath her nor all of her main wing feathers.
I can't recommend anything for promoting growth but if you're worried about her getting cold you can get a 'clux-tux' which is a woolie coat to keep her warm. Being spring it's probably not neccessary now though.
Worth making sure she's not having her feathers pecked too?
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OMG - just googled Chux-Tux - love it!!!!!! I don't think she's cold, just looks a bit scraggly!
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Dont worry, it will come :D As long as she is gettng mostly a good quality layers pellet, she is getting everything she needs. one of my really scraggy ones didnt get feathers till she stopped laying :blush:. As long as she is happy and healthy.....Thats all that matters :)
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One out of my 8 took 18 months to feather up. You can's tell which one now. If you want to you can give a little extra protein (cat food) to her, but a good layer pellet and grit should have everything.