Molting

[hmitch2013]

I need some advice on molting. We love in MI upper peninsula and our winters are long
My girls just started going through this last month. Is there anything I can do for them? I worry they are too cold without their feathers. How long does this.usually last, a couple months? Any ideas would be helpful!

Also, any ideas on how to handle an attack rooster? Our rooster lately has been trying to attack my husband and I when were in the coop. Hoping this stops soon too!

Thanks!

 

[thebanthams]

I need some advice on molting. We love in MI upper peninsula and our winters are long
My girls just started going through this last month. Is there anything I can do for them? I worry they are too cold without their feathers. How long does this.usually last, a couple months? Any ideas would be helpful!

Also, any ideas on how to handle an attack rooster? Our rooster lately has been trying to attack my husband and I when were in the coop. Hoping this stops soon too!

Thanks!

really not much you can do with molting. some can recovered a month up to six months. Some people give them lots of protien, like cooked eggs, or canned cat food. they should be fine as long they have shelter no need for heat. As for roosters you will have to show him whose the boss, you can squirt water gun at him. I usually just stand there and let him fight me until he will stop ! (Im a lady, so doesnt scare me!! LOL! ) But may not work for all breeds! some are meaner than another ! Good luck.

 

[hmitch2013]

Thanks for the advice! I have been feeding them extra protein and egg production has picked up a bit. As far as my rooster, he is a bantam and for some reason he is just mean. I have had roosters in the past, not with the attitude that he has. Im gonna try the spray trick...hopefully it will go well!

 

[thebanthams]

I have a silkie rooster, he will attack me from my back, never in front of me! when he try to walk up my back, I just turned around then he will walk away from me !! last time he fought with me , He figured I won, he hasnt bother me much since!

 

[Janay]

I've heard that you can feed Cat Food to chickens to speed up the molting process. What does anyone think of that? What brand(s) should be used? How much?...

 

[thebanthams]

I've heard that you can feed Cat Food to chickens to speed up the molting process. What does anyone think of that? What brand(s) should be used? How much?...

it helps some but not fast enough! it didnt matter what kind, but I found salmon which is high in protein. I was giving them a can everynight for three ladies. they love em!

 

[Happy Chooks]

I've heard that you can feed Cat Food to chickens to speed up the molting process. What does anyone think of that? What brand(s) should be used? How much?...

Cat food is high in protein, but also high in sodium - so give it sparingly.

 

[4GromsMom]

Ok, so I am new here, please bear with me. All of our hens (about 20) molted at the same time this past winter. We had one hen who lost all of the feathers on her back…and they have yet to grow back. We have asked around, and no one seems to know what would cause this since the rest of the hen's feathers grew back beautifully. Has anyone else experienced such a thing?

 

[thebanthams]

Ok, so I am new here, please bear with me. All of our hens (about 20) molted at the same time this past winter. We had one hen who lost all of the feathers on her back…and they have yet to grow back. We have asked around, and no one seems to know what would cause this since the rest of the hen's feathers grew back beautifully. Has anyone else experienced such a thing?

if no feathers on their backs are cause from roosters mating.

 

[4GromsMom]

if no feathers on their backs are cause from roosters mating.

That's what I thought too, but she is the only one of 20 hens missing her entire back feathers, she had a full back before molting and after…nothing. We even put the rooster in a separate pen and they still did not grow back. Just seems strange.