Molting - My girls are not feeling well

[potterchic]

Our girls have quit laying and I know it is due to molting, when they say the coop looks like a pillow blew up they are right. My daugher has two Buff Polish hens and we have feathers every where. They seem irratated and cranky and do not have much of an appetite, they love cut up tomatoes, yogurt and I read to give them HIGH protein. At dinner time we feed them cut up tomatoes, fresh spinach, yogurt and tuna, (every day) i make a small plate for them. But the last night they just went to the coop and did not eat any thing. Now these girls will come running when they see their plate is coming. How long will this last??? Molting they look so very sad. It has been two weeks now, not concerned about no eggs but the girls look a mess and now just sit in the coop - Age of girls 1 year, this is their first molting. Well thanks for any help

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Molting does make some birds crabby - does not matter if they are chickens, ducks or parrots. The new feathers coming in are sensitive and itchy - not a good combo.

You can try some chopped up meat for them - raw or cooked. Mine when molting really like some raw chopped liver. Gives a great boost of protein.


Make sure they have a good place to dust bathe.

 

[nanawendy]

Interesting HorseFeatherz... That makes total sense