Susan3
Hatching
- Oct 12, 2015
- 4
- 0
- 7
Hello,
I have 3 one-year old chickens. They are allowed to roam the whole property, which has grass, trees, garden beds and some bits of wilderness. So there is plenty of diversity and theoretically plenty of food for them. In the evening, when I put them away, I feed them a mixture of seeds. When they were growing up, they had beautiful, shiny, healthy looking feathers. But for some time now their feathers have lost their shine, they look matt and frayed. Since they have so much space and freedom, I am assuming that it has nothing to do with dust bathing, preening or any other behaviour. So I can only assume that it has something to do with nutrition. Does anyone have any ideas? We have some younger chickens as well (about 5 months old), and their feathers are still really beautiful.
Now that I am writing this, I am wondering if it has anything to do with egg laying?! Maybe a lack of calcium, that they now use for the eggs, rather than their feathers?
I am attaching a couple of photos to show you exactly what I am talking about. Many thanks in advance for your advise!
I have 3 one-year old chickens. They are allowed to roam the whole property, which has grass, trees, garden beds and some bits of wilderness. So there is plenty of diversity and theoretically plenty of food for them. In the evening, when I put them away, I feed them a mixture of seeds. When they were growing up, they had beautiful, shiny, healthy looking feathers. But for some time now their feathers have lost their shine, they look matt and frayed. Since they have so much space and freedom, I am assuming that it has nothing to do with dust bathing, preening or any other behaviour. So I can only assume that it has something to do with nutrition. Does anyone have any ideas? We have some younger chickens as well (about 5 months old), and their feathers are still really beautiful.
Now that I am writing this, I am wondering if it has anything to do with egg laying?! Maybe a lack of calcium, that they now use for the eggs, rather than their feathers?
I am attaching a couple of photos to show you exactly what I am talking about. Many thanks in advance for your advise!