Feather fixer or all flock

[Jeanboo]

Hi. I got a flock today from someone, and several of the ladies seem to be molting. It is February, and VERY VERY cold here. Anyway, I was wondering which is better for helping regrow their feathers, 20% all flock or 18% FF? All hatched last summer and supposed to be laying. I also have one rooster, his feathers are in great shape.

 

[wamtazlady]

Are you sure they are molting? What I can see in the third and fourth picture looks like a hen that is a favorite of the rooster. I'm seeing a brown hen that seems to have damage from being mounted. Most roosters have favorite hens they like to mount often.

I feed All Flock year round. The hens do well on it. I like the 20% protein.

Forgot to mention earlier that you should offer crushed oyster shells on the side to provide extra calcium to the hens.

 

[rosemarythyme]

For feather growth, 20% all flock. Don't get caught up in the name "feather fixer," it's a layer feed with a little extra protein. Assuming you want to keep your rooster around a long time, layer feed is not optimal as he does not need the extra calcium that's in layer.

 

[Jeanboo]

Are you sure they are molting? What I can see in the third and fourth picture looks like a hen that is a favorite of the rooster. I'm seeing a brown hen that seems to have damage from being mounted. Most roosters have favorite hens they like to mount often.

I feed All Flock year round. The hens do well on it. I like the 20% protein.

Forgot to mention earlier that you should offer crushed oyster shells on the side to provide extra calcium to the hens.

They are missing feathers on their whole neck, front too. The pics are screenshots off a video I took. I'll get better pics today.

 

[Jeanboo]

For feather growth, 20% all flock. Don't get caught up in the name "feather fixer," it's a layer feed with a little extra protein. Assuming you want to keep your rooster around a long time, layer feed is not optimal as he does not need the extra calcium that's in layer.

Ok. Thanks

 

[Brooks_]

Agreeing with Rosemary and adding that the hens don't need the extra calcium of layer year round.. Be it slowed production of molt or winter or just infrequent layers. Some can even get a good supply of calcium from the environment. I think 20% all flock/flock raiser with oyster shell on the side is the better practice for most BYC.

 

[Jeanboo]

They are missing feathers on their whole neck, front too. The pics are screenshots off a video I took. I'll get better pics today.

 

[Jeanboo]

So here is a better view of the worst one

 

[Wyorp Rock]

So here is a better view of the worst one

That's feather picking, not molting.
Could be they were housed too tightly where they were before, hopefully that problem will resolve with them being in a new home. Look for lice/mites just in case.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

"Feather Fixer" is 18% protein "Layer feed" - look at the calcium it contains. All Flock is superior to speed molt, for overall body condition, for egg size and frequency (barely), for raising new chicks, and poses no calcium toxicity problem for your rooster.

Its not a close question.