Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: Mr R Design on October 20, 2016, 15:26

Title: Moulting?
Post by: Mr R Design on October 20, 2016, 15:26

Is it moulting season as I haven't been through it before and the coop and run looks like an eiderdown has been ripped open?

Last winter was their first winter, I had them as POL around June 2015.

Title: Re: Moulting?
Post by: Beekissed on October 20, 2016, 16:09

Yep...tis the season.  My yard looks like a ticker tape parade has went through it. 

Title: Re: Moulting?
Post by: Sassy on October 21, 2016, 14:16

Some can end up looking oven ready  :lol:

Title: Re: Moulting?
Post by: sunshineband on October 22, 2016, 09:59

Do you have to give them any extra food to help grow new feathers?

Title: Re: Moulting?
Post by: New shoot on October 22, 2016, 18:03

Quote from: sunshineband on October 22, 2016, 09:59

Do you have to give them any extra food to help grow new feathers?

Mine don't get any extras when they moult, but they don't do such a dramatic de-feathering job.

If you have hens modelling the oven ready look, a bit of extra protein rich food can help, but only small amounts.  Anything you give needs to be low in saturated fat and low sodium. 

If they free-range, they will get their own from scratching for worms and slugs  :)

Title: Re: Moulting?
Post by: Beekissed on October 22, 2016, 22:17

I agree.  Mine doesn't get any extra supplements for molting as they get pretty rich provender out on range anyway.   

Title: Re: Moulting?
Post by: Mr R Design on October 23, 2016, 09:07

Mine seem to turn their noses up at worms and slugs they appear to prefer sliced steak and prawns

Title: Re: Moulting?
Post by: Flowerpower136 on October 23, 2016, 10:17

Mine recently caught and ate a mole and were delighted with themselves. So I dont think they need to much extra from me.
Depends what they usually have access to really.

Title: Re: Moulting?
Post by: greenjay on October 23, 2016, 18:57

wish mine could be trained to catch moles.

Title: Re: Moulting?
Post by: Flowerpower136 on October 23, 2016, 19:04

 :lol:  No training. All their own work!  Didn't know whether to be proud or horrified!

Title: Re: Moulting?
Post by: greenjay on October 23, 2016, 19:44

proud I would  have thought. that's nature for you.
after saying that I think most pests should be controlled.
 you will certainly never eradicate the mole, just look around the countryside.

Title: Re: Moulting?
Post by: Mr R Design on October 24, 2016, 08:30

I regularly have Great Tits nesting in one of the bird boxes and when they fledged this year one of them crash landed into a plant border.

Guess who beat me to it!!!!!

It's amazing how much can be devoured in 30 seconds!

Title: Re: Moulting?
Post by: Flowerpower136 on October 24, 2016, 08:41

Oh no! That's even sadder than the chomped mole!

I was proud of them really. Saves me the hassle of bothering with traps. My neighbour's cat does his bit to help too. Not an opportunist like the chooks though, his way involves strategy. Sits for hours staring at molehills waiting for the soil to twitch!  :D

Title: Re: Moulting?
Post by: Sassy on October 24, 2016, 09:07

If you are concerned cat food, not poultry flavoured!, has been recommended to give them a boost. I have used a poultry tonic. But they do sort themselves out although if they are not free range a boost is a good idea.  :)