[magiemay]

My five girls are all loosing their feathers.  3 have now got bare bums and now they're loosing feathers around their necks.  Do you think this is a normal moult ?  It seems a funny time of year to be moulting just as it's getting cold.  I haven't seen any sign of feather pecking from any of them. Is there anything I can do for them to help them through this - I do give them cod liver oil once a week. Grateful for any advice.     

[hillfooter]

Yes it's perfectly normal at this time of year.  Older birds moult heavier and earlier than younger birds.  Also poorer layers tend to moult earlier.

Birds lose their feathers in a set pattern as you have observed they don't tend to moult evenly.

I'd just focus on ensuring they get regular layers pellets as their staple diet, a handful of mixed corn at night and not too many treats.  Some people like to feed a bit more protein once moult is fully underway and new feathers have started to appear as whit quills.  Feathers are mainly protein.  Soya or tuna in water (not oil) can be given in an evening 2 or three times a week.

Some people change to growers pellets rather than layers as they think that extra calcium isn't needed while they aren't laying but I wouldn't do this.   During moult your birds are renewing their calcium stocks in medullary bone which they will need for their new laying cycle.  The rest during moult is an important period of renewal and good nutrition is important during this time.  I wouldn't start to experiment with supplements other than maybe adding a multivit to their water.

Best of luck
HF

[Helenaj]

One of my girls - a Barnevelder - only lost a couple of feathers last year. This year, she's almost bald. She's moulted by far the worst of all of my hens. I'll be glad when the feathers grow back fully as at the moment there are so many quills showing, she looks more like a hedgehog!