Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[MrsNorthie]

the Sussex pullets are feisty!

I love feisty pullets!

 

[Perris]

It is probably the protein. I am in a Facebook group for keeping CX as pets (one of very few good sources for keeping them alive well into adulthood) and there they advise to add a bit protein in their feed when moulting/loss of feathers occurs.

Here in the Netherlands layer feed has about 14% protein, while all flock has around 15%. If the UK is the same then they could use the extra amount when moulting. If you have extra eggs you could also boil and crush those and feed them back to your flock.

Mine aren't on bagged feed, and have quite a variety of protein sources ordinarily. My guess is it's a particular micronutrient that she only wants/needs when moulting that she finds in the mealworms.

 

[RoyalChick]

Mine aren't on bagged feed, and have quite a variety of protein sources ordinarily. My guess is it's a particular micronutrient that she only wants/needs when moulting that she finds in the mealworms.

Don’t you ever get a craving? I am sure chickens are no different. She woke up and just fancied some meal worms!

 

[Perris]

Absolutely! But what is a craving? The body crying out for something it knows it needs and thinks it knows where to get it! Enter e.g. a bacon sarnie, a chocolate pudding, anchovies on toast or whatever. At least, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it