BYC Café

[DobieLover]

Well, the above is what I would do before I did anything else. I've first time moulting hens here that wouldn't come out of the coop. I very carefully carry them to an area I know is good forage and see how they behave. Luckily so far they've all started looking for whatever it is that they need. You need to stay with them and you need to be very gentle handling them because of the danger of busting a pin feather.

Once she's out, she's out. She panics when I pick her up so chasing her around to recapture her is unnecessary stress.
Have you ever seen staggering in first time molt hens? This girl was vaccinated for Marek's for whatever that is worth.
I know it's practically impossible to answer, but do you have any idea how long before she is through the worst of this molt? If they molt hard, is it fast vs molting softer and longer?

 

[Meg-in-MT]

Morning, all! A balmy 8° this morning, but warming up nicely. Supposed to hit 40° today
DL, my girls that molt hard get through it with varying degrees of success (speed). Some will look like hell and a week later are already looking much better. Then for others you don't think their feathers will ever grow back. Though it seems to be harder on the older ones. I haven't had anybody staggering before, but a few are incredibly skittish. I'm sorry, I know that isn't any help. How old did you say she was?

 

[DobieLover]

Morning, all! A balmy 8° this morning, but warming up nicely. Supposed to hit 40° today
DL, my girls that molt hard get through it with varying degrees of success (speed). Some will look like hell and a week later are already looking much better. Then for others you don't think their feathers will ever grow back. Though it seems to be harder on the older ones. I haven't had anybody staggering before, but a few are incredibly skittish. I'm sorry, I know that isn't any help. How old did you say she was?

18 months.

 

[Shadrach]

Once she's out, she's out. She panics when I pick her up so chasing her around to recapture her is unnecessary stress.
Have you ever seen staggering in first time molt hens? This girl was vaccinated for Marek's for whatever that is worth.
I know it's practically impossible to answer, but do you have any idea how long before she is through the worst of this molt? If they molt hard, is it fast vs molting softer and longer?

No, I've never had a moulting staggering hen.
I think you're looking at a least a month for a first time heavy moult.
Fudge here is almost through. She's been at it for a bit over three weeks.
Tackle is in her third week and is going a bit slower.
When Ruffles had her first proper moult almost seven years ago it took her six weeks.

 

[sourland]

As a 'general' statement I have found that hard molt hens especially in the sort of weather you are now facing feather out quite rapidly - hence the strain on their bodies. Perhaps protein supplementation might help - I really don't know whether or not that is the answer.

 

[DobieLover]

As a 'general' statement I have found that hard molt hens especially in the sort of weather you are now facing feather out quite rapidly - hence the strain on their bodies. Perhaps protein supplementation might help - I really don't know whether or not that is the answer.

She's on 20% protein. I also toss a tablespoon of meal worms for her. I've been adding PND to the afternoon mash as well. I'm out of ideas. I got a bit of her walking on video. Out of focus because the camera kept focusing on the HC in front of her so it's hard to see. I think I'll let her back out and see how she does. She hated not being able to roost with the flock last night.

 

[DobieLover]

It's hard to see the way she walks. She isn't staggering in this but walking squatted down.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Seems she is just miserable I did not see her unable to move ?
Morning Cafe lot's of running here and there my Halloween contest end today

 

[DobieLover]

Seems she is just miserable I did not see her unable to move ?
Morning Cafe lot's of running here and there my Halloween contest end today

She can move. She walks crouched down and stumbles occasionally. As if she's weak. Perhaps she's just that uncomfortable that she's walking that way.

 

[N F C]

She can move. She walks crouched down and stumbles occasionally. As if she's weak. Perhaps she's just that uncomfortable that she's walking that way.

That would be my guess Dobie, but of course, you know her best. If she were one of mine, I would be inclined to just up her protein (which sounds like you are) and keep an eye on her, see how things progress.