[samuria]

some advise please... i have 2 marans  +2 bluebells.
they are starting to look as if they had a fight with a plucking machine......
the coop is full of feathers each morning.
both marans have lost a lot of feather around the rear,,, and neck...
is this right time for birds to moult??? with the cold spell apon us???
all are eating well. anything i can do to help them 

[arugula]

Chickens moult at this time of year.

[ANHBUC]

It is natural for them to moult but make sure they have shelter from the wind and rain.  Some people give them Poultry Spice during their moult.  If they loose most of their feathers and look oven ready there are patterns for chicken jumpers to keep them warm.   

[CDave]

Most of mine are moulting - one looks particularly oven ready - but she always does when moulting. I try to feed mine extra protein at this time of year. Feathers are derived from protein. Maggots from the fishing tackle shop or mealworms are always welcomed. Does it do any good? No idea really !! 

[samuria]

thanks for the info they have a good shelter so a bit of protein for them is on the way......

[Prod]

I have 6 hens and a cockerel They have all been moulting over the last few weeks and it is interesting to see the difference and change in them.The Ancona, Zsa Zsa, has turned into a beautiful looking bird but has more white than before. The Cream Legbar, Sugar, has gone much darker and formed a little ' crown' on her head and the cockerel, Thatcher, is a Welsummer and, though I say it myself, he has turned into a stunning looking boy.  I give them tonic in their water alternated with ACV and add Poultry Spice to the layers pellets.  A few days ago I was getting some wild bird food from the shed and I dropped a fat ball which they pounced on and demolished it in seconds  so every other day I give them another before bedtime. I reakon as it's only fat & seed it will do them no harm...

[joyfull]

Sorry Prod but the fat in the fat balls can do a lot of harm to them just like in humans.
Fat balls are fine for the wild birds as they need far more calories over the winter unlike your hens. The wild birds have to work very hard to find food but your birds don't have to hunt far to get their layers pellets.

[Prod]

oops!!!!  they have only had 3 or 4 so far between 7 of them  but I will stop giving them now. Thanks for the advice

[themagicaltoad1]

I give mine a mix of pellets mashed in hot water with a handful of corn and a small sachet of fishy cat food all mixed together for extra protein when they moult in the cold weather.