[beth123]

Hi there

I've only had my chickens a few months and I've not had much luck at all.  A few weeks ago my warren was really ill with cold and I didn't think she would pull through.  Luckily she did but now I think she's moulting but I'm really not sure.  She's lost all the feathers around her comb and the area looks really spiky.  When I looked in the coop her feathers are everywhere.  Is she moulting? Is it normal for chickens to moult in the winter?  I'm really worried about her now.

[Brambles]

Last year one of my rescue hens looked like an oven ready chicken!  There was snow on the ground and it was SO cold.... but she recovered and her new feathers grew beautifully.

[Bonniebean]

Hi Beth, yes autumn is moulting time and the spikey bits are the new feathers coming through. Just make sure you give them lots of supplements in their food and water as it is a stressful time for them and they will need extra vitamins. Poultry spice in food and Stressless in their water.

[beth123]

Thanks for that, where is the best place to buy the supplements from? I only have a Pets at Home in my area and they aren't brilliant for chicken supply's. 

[wolverine]

Pets at home do sell poultry spice it's a rip off though . It works really well

[Bonniebean]

Poor Rosie!

[joyfull]

looks like she has a lovely new set of feathers on the way, won't be long before she will be proudly strutting showing off her new clothes 

[beth123]

Bonniebean I had no idea how they looked when they were moulting.  Thank you for the picture I know what to expect now.

[Bonniebean]

I hoped it might help - it is rather a shock when you see it all for the first time!

[alancane]

I was hoping my hens that I got this year would go into a moult - Little Dolly is so tatty, she needs a fresh new covering  lol
But Dolly being so tatty and a real day dreamer makes her so adorable!

[nicky d]

I have two of my girls moulting at the moment, feathers absoutley everywhere lol, isnt it funny that they choose to moult when its absoutley freezing   nickyx

[beth123]

I know what you mean Nicky, aren't they going to get cold at this time of year?  I was a bit shocked at the photo that Bonniebean posted.  My warren has a completely bold head and neck now, I dread to think what she's going to look like in a few days.