Poultry problem

trauma boy

Hi can I get some advice please. I have 4 hens for the last 20 months with no issues one of my hens a blackrock has being moulting the last few days. She looks bad. She is eating and drinking normally. The other 3 a light Sussex, bluebell and Rhode Island Red have no symptoms and are looking really well. There has been no change. No food or environment changes and not any stresses that I'm aware of.. She doesn't seem bothered or sick. This would be her first proper moult. I have her since 20 weeks....I didn't think they would moult this time of year. I appreciate any advice. I have got valuable advice her before.
Thanks
Keith limerick

garbeth

Mine moulted in late November and have done for years since I got them. Just make sure they have fresh water and feed and somewhere warm to roost.

trauma boy

garbeth wrote: »

Mine moulted in late November and have done for years since I got them. Just make sure they have fresh water and feed and somewhere warm to roost.

Thanks garbeth. I will do that and keep an eye on her

aonb

Its the pits when they moult in the winter, but you can do nothing about that - at least its not very cold at the moment
When a hen is in moult its a good idea to give her a bit of extra protein to help with the process of re-feathering. Depending on what she will eat, you could try her with some mashed up tuna (in water not oil), some cat food is good (the pate kind, mashed up), failing that you could give her a bit of scrambled egg. The other 3 will want it too, no harm to give it to them, but you could always seperate her to give it to her on her own. The other consideration when they are moulting is to increase calcium a bit - helps the refeathering again - LIMESTONE FLOUR is excellent - sprinkle a bit in their food for a week. Will help with shell quality too.

Keep a watch on them when she is regrowing the new feathers. The pin feathers have blood in the base, and can be an attraction for the others to peck her. You could spray some purple spray (Gentian) on her if its an issue, or even some sudocrem will 'hide' the red (blood) and discourage pecking

trauma boy

Aonb
Thank you very much for that I will try that.. I appreciate the advice and the time you took to respond

ligertigon

And don't clip new wings till blood is gone from quills !

trauma boy

ligertigon wrote: »

And don't clip new wings till blood is gone from quills !

Thank you