My Delaware hens are moulting. They are past the godawful stage & looking fluffier but their combs & wattles are shrunken. I've been adding protein to their morning treat of oatmeal w/yogurt in the form of canned cat food. Is there anything else I can try to help them get back in shape?
Not really... I add more protein and then wait it out. When they're getting ready to lay again, they go red in the face and their comb/wattles go back to how they're supposed to be. It's like waiting on the first egg all over again!
Cat food in any quantity is not a good formula for chickens; don't give too much. We can buy canned mackerel (tuna aisle) here pretty cheap and it's a big can. Most any meat, cooked or raw -- mine get leftovers sometimes. The bones or carcass of whatever you cook is always good; they love to pick it clean. Tuna is good, of course, but costs more. Scraps from cleaning fish or hunting are great if you can get them.
Thanks to both for your answers mandelyn: OMG - so I have a whole 'nother Eggwait to go through? ddawn: ok - will switch to mackerel. will my girls have stinky fishbreath?
