The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[lalaland]

I'm failry nervous right now because the entire flock seems to have depressed appetites. When I bring out the feed, they swarm as normal, but are not consuming very much . As in, 17 hens are eating less than 12 cups of feed a day. Their intake of feed should be going up as we've had several hard freezes so insects are no longer really there, and because of hawks they are confined to the run more.

Most of the group are in some stage of molting - early, middle, or just about finished. I am waiting on the winter cleanout of the coop until molting is finished, and I thought I was just about there but came into the coop to find a big feather explosion, so a few more have started.

I know molting can depress the appetite but this drop in feed seems excessive, and of course I am fretting about mareks.

Also found a really fabulous australian poultry site. Has tons of info, and a very cool chicken anatomy thing where you can hover over drawings done by a medical illustrator and get text about whatever structure you are looking at. it is the Poultry Hub, found here: www.poultryhub.org

 

[rowerjen]

I have 6 hens who are about 15 months old. One looks like she's just losing a feather here and there. Two look practically oven-ready. The other 3 haven't started molting yet. So here's a question: have those of you who have roosters ever had a problem with your boys aggressively going after a molting hen? I have two 7 month old boys who chase down my nearly bald barnevelder hen every time they see her. One has started chasing and harassing my other hens so he's likely headed for the stew pot. The other, however, is very well behaved except for this one poor hen. Any ideas?

One other rooster question: right now I have too many boys, and "stew" is the low guy on the totem poll. If I fix the ration of boys to girls do you think his attitude will improve or once an jerk, always a jerk? I'm guessing the latter, only debating with myself because he's a pure bred barnie from good lines. I do have another who's, the top roo and a perfect gentleman at all times. Stew is my backup boy, although at this point I'm not impressed with his looks or his disposition.

 

[Leahs Mom]

@lalaland

Mine are eating way less too during the molt. I hope yours are just having symptoms of molt.

It really is hard to assess health during molt and now that it's cold, it's even harder in my opinion.

And thanks for posting poultry hub. I've run across them from time to time searching for other things. I didn't see the part you were talking about. Going to bookmark that for the future.


@rowerjen
Curious if you might have somewhere to pen the roos separately for awhile? If you do, it would give the girls a break and it may even cool the boys jets. Then you could release one at a time later on and observe how they behave better when they're not competing with each other.

 

[islandgirl82]

I was also thinking that separating at least the rooster who is misbehaving long enough for the molting hen(s) to get further along in their feather growth. Molting is stressful enough on them without being targeted by a flock mate. If he's still bullying after the reintroduction then I'd send him to the pot.

Although, if you're not impressed with either his looks or disposition anyway, I think you have your answer.

 

[hennible]

I have 6 hens who are about 15 months old.  One looks like she's just losing a feather here and there.  Two look practically oven-ready.  The other 3 haven't started molting yet.  So here's a question:  have those of you who have roosters ever had a problem with your boys aggressively going after a molting hen?  I have two 7 month old boys who chase down my nearly bald barnevelder hen every time they see her.  One has started chasing and harassing my other hens so he's likely headed for the stew pot.  The other, however, is very well behaved except for this one poor hen.  Any ideas? 

One other rooster question:  right now I have too many boys, and "stew" is the low guy on the totem poll.  If I fix the ration of boys to girls do you think his attitude will improve or once an jerk, always a jerk?  I'm guessing the latter, only debating with myself because he's a pure bred barnie from good lines.  I do have another who's, the top roo and  a perfect gentleman at all times.  Stew is my backup boy, although at this point I'm not impressed with his looks or his disposition.

Practically oven ready

I wonder if it because the hen looks odd to him... My oldest roo has always seemed to prefer the look of what ever the majority of hens is... Anyone who looks odd is lower on his list. Leahs mom's idea sounds good...
Also the birds are still young, so maybe with some help from you the attitude could be adjusted...

 

[Lacy Blues]

I have 6 hens who are about 15 months old. One looks like she's just losing a feather here and there. Two look practically oven-ready. The other 3 haven't started molting yet. So here's a question: have those of you who have roosters ever had a problem with your boys aggressively going after a molting hen? I have two 7 month old boys who chase down my nearly bald barnevelder hen every time they see her. One has started chasing and harassing my other hens so he's likely headed for the stew pot. The other, however, is very well behaved except for this one poor hen. Any ideas?

One other rooster question: right now I have too many boys, and "stew" is the low guy on the totem poll. If I fix the ration of boys to girls do you think his attitude will improve or once an jerk, always a jerk? I'm guessing the latter, only debating with myself because he's a pure bred barnie from good lines. I do have another who's, the top roo and a perfect gentleman at all times. Stew is my backup boy, although at this point I'm not impressed with his looks or his disposition.

If your rooster is from good lines, I would let him mature in his own pen for a while. He's likely just "feeling his oats" and you know how teenaged boys can be. I'm assuming he's teenaged. His behavior sounds like it.

I don't know how long it takes that breed to fill out but I agree with the recommendation to separate him. Molting, stressed birds don't need the additional stress of a teenaged boy's hormones raging and the resultant chaos.

 

[armorfirelady]

My girls are eating less as well while they are molting. Must be that time of year. I just took out some homemade suet bars for them to munch on. I'm hoping the extra fat and goodies in them will help them while they are molting. And who can resist a tasty goody?

 

[ronott1]

My pullets normally only molt a few feathers here and there. Once they are older they molt more feathers in the fall. None of my hens have ever molted all their feathers
So they are bare (I've seen pics of one hat have) but this year the 3 yo hens molted the most they ever have and have bald spots under their wings and on their butt. The 2 yo are molting but not horribly. I think Edie lost the most but she has a couple bare spots on her neck you only see if you pick her up. And she has been laying normally. Stella has been slowly molting for months lol. Edie is my only layer For the last couple weeks. Told the other slackers they need to get over themselves and start layin again. They just roll their eyes at me and stand around my moms treat jar she has for them. (Bird seed). I'm mean I do let give them any lol.

Molting is harder and comes more often as the chickens get older. Many kill them before the second molt so they do not know what is natural.

 

[rowerjen]

Thanks all, for the advice. Right now my older hens and Gentleman Jens (the Sr. Roo) are in a separate run from the juniors, so the only time the older gals get harassed is when they're out in the yard. My teen-aged brat does get after the girls in his pen as well, so after tonight's cold snap I'll try giving him some quality time in the quarantine pen. Jens gave both of the boys a bit of what for when I let them out this afternoon. He's also been sticking close to his ladies and intervening against unwanted advances.

 

[armorfirelady]

My pullets normally only molt a few feathers here and there. Once they are older they molt more feathers in the fall. None of my hens have ever molted all their feathers

So they are bare (I've seen pics of one hat have) but this year the 3 yo hens molted the most they ever have and have bald spots under their wings and on their butt. The 2 yo are molting but not horribly. I think Edie lost the most but she has a couple bare spots on her neck you only see if you pick her up. And she has been laying normally. Stella has been slowly molting for months lol. Edie is my only layer For the last couple weeks. Told the other slackers they need to get over themselves and start layin again. They just roll their eyes at me and stand around my moms treat jar she has for them. (Bird seed). I'm mean I do let give them any lol.

Molting is harder and comes more often as the chickens get older. Many kill them before the second molt so they do not know what is natural.

Thanks for the info. My older hens can stay till they stop laying. Even tho I am limited by laws I've been trying to have different aged hens so I can still get a steady amount off eggs. I just wish they all molted at different times