Hens losing feathers

martyoo

Hi,

I have six hens (Rhode Islands) and most of them have started losing their feathers. My Dad said it's called "pen feathering" or molting as I think it's also called and it's normal.

Anyone any advice on this? I read it could be also because they have attracted a disease. One did die there recently and I'm not sure why.

I'm just after getting them and I'm not sure of their age but I would guess that they are around the 1 year mark.

aonb

Yes, they are MOULTING. Hens will moult at least 1 big moult a year - sometimes 2 smaller moults. This is perfectly normal. They get their new feathers pretty quickly. Some of them will loose an enormous amount of feathers (like carnage in the yard!!). If you have any that are particularly bald/bad, regrowing the feathers depletes their systems, so you could boost them a bit by giving them extra protein: either tinned fish in oil (not brine) or fishy cat food (the pate type) - just mash up and put in a couple of dishes, and stand back!

They will probably go off lay for a while while regrowing their feathers (the protein will speed this up).

Lucky its warming up a bit for their moult!

martyoo

Thanks aonb.

Yes they stopped laying as well. Will get some tinned fish in.

flutered

hang a head of cabbage some where in their housing, they will make it dissapear, handier and cheaper

Qualitymark

martyoo wrote: »

Thanks aonb.

Yes they stopped laying as well. Will get some tinned fish in.

Make sure the tinned fish isn't tinned in brine (salt is bad for hens) but in oil.