Do You Use Feed Supplements During Molt?

[Corazon Ranch]

My yearling hens are molting -- HARD! Their backs and necks (and some of their butts) are bald, the rest of the feathers are broken. They hardly resemble the handsome flock I had not long ago! I am worried that I don't see any new feathers coming in. This is the worst molt I have ever seen in three years of raising chickens... They are still laying eggs like crazy, more than the books say they should be (my 10 girls ought to give me 5 eggs a day, but I always get at least six, and sometimes eight a day).

I am wondering if anyone uses supplements to help the chickens during molt. I have heard that they need more protein, because feathers are mostly made of protein.

Currently they eat 16% layer pellets (Purina or DuMor, depending on where I am shopping), plus almost all my vegetarian kitchen scraps, and whatever they can find while free-ranging in the daytime.

Yesterday I went shopping and also picked up a seed block and alfalfa hay (I've never given them alfalfa before, but my neighbor says it is a good idea).

While in the store, I read a lot of labels for supplements that say they will help build a healthy feather coat, or give added nutrition during molt, etc, etc. I ended up buying a bottle of "Kickin' Chicken" top dressing, mostly because it seemed like the least costly option.

If you have any advice on this subject, I am ALL EARS! I want my girls to be healthy and beautiful. But mostly healthy.

Thanks in advance

 

[PunkinPeep]

Are you sure they're moulting?

Are there any roosters involved?

If you're sure they're moulting, calcium and protein are the nutrients of the hour. I would suggest maybe some calf manna in their feed to help them recover as quickly as possible.

If they're laying eggs still, i would say that's a really good sign that they're weathering well.



Beth

 

[Fred's Hens]

I would dust them and repeat in 8 days, just to be sure there are no mites/lice irritating them. Garden/Poultry dust is found in the garden section of KMart, WalMart, etc. Comes in a one quart shaker can. Enough to do a dozen birds twice.

If they're moulting or have feather loss due to an infestation and you want re-growth of feathers it is hard to beat a good Game Bird grower at 24% protein. That will really, really help them re-grow their feathers. Even a non-medicated Chick Starter Grower at 22-24% protein will accomplish the same. DuMor makes it.

Feathers are essentially protein.