The Pita Pinta Asturiana

[caychris]

My 16 week olds are funny they spent thier first days outside the other day and at night they all were lined up to come in the house (they had spent the night with the near POL crowd before) but they wanted to go back to their brooder in the garage.
I really need to get them out to their perm home

 

[Ballerina Bird]

My 16 week olds are funny they spent thier first days outside the other day and at night they all were lined up to come in the house (they had spent the night with the near POL crowd before) but they wanted to go back to their brooder in the garage.
I really need to get them out to their perm home

I love how they line up for things; it is so cute.

 

[Ballerina Bird]

Hi gang. I am wondering -- are we heading toward molting season for the pitas? Just in the last couple of days, I have noticed a stray feather here and there, and I noticed today that Odette has a place on her chest where she looks a little ruffled. They are otherwise plump, glossy, and full of beans. Is this just regular feather wear, or are we getting into the season? This is going to be my first adult molt, so any preparatory advice is welcome....

 

[ronott1]

Hi gang. I am wondering -- are we heading toward molting season for the pitas? Just in the last couple of days, I have noticed a stray feather here and there, and I noticed today that Odette has a place on her chest where she looks a little ruffled. They are otherwise plump, glossy, and full of beans. Is this just regular feather wear, or are we getting into the season? This is going to be my first adult molt, so any preparatory advice is welcome....

Yes!

Their egg production will slow or stop and they will lose feathers. I have one in heavy molt now. I will work on getting a picture.

 

[Ballerina Bird]

Yes!

Their egg production will slow or stop and they will lose feathers. I have one in heavy molt now. I will work on getting a picture.

Huh! Well, good to know that I actually guessed right about something!

I am a little nervous about molting -- people on BYC write such blood-curdling stories about it. What does everyone here give their birds to increase protein intake? Should I start that now, before they are in a full-on molt? And what do you all do to prevent their going after each other? My ladies are very sweet to each other, and I think Odile is a gentle alpha relative to what I have read. She only rarely pecks Odette, and so far never hard, to show Odette that she is overstepping her bounds. But I don't know if there will be mayhem once they get into molting. How do your pitas behave?

 

[ronott1]

Huh! Well, good to know that I actually guessed right about something!

I am a little nervous about molting -- people on BYC write such blood-curdling stories about it. What does everyone here give their birds to increase protein intake? Should I start that now, before they are in a full-on molt? And what do you all do to prevent their going after each other? My ladies are very sweet to each other, and I think Odile is a gentle alpha relative to what I have read. She only rarely pecks Odette, and so far never hard, to show Odette that she is overstepping her bounds. But I don't know if there will be mayhem once they get into molting. How do your pitas behave?

No, they will be fine!

Higby's sells a layer called feather fixer. I has ingredients in it to help them grow feathers.

 

[Ballerina Bird]

No, they will be fine!

Higby's sells a layer called feather fixer. I has ingredients in it to help them grow feathers.

Awsome! Thanks, Ron! Do you mix it with their regular layer or just switch feeds while they are molting?

 

[ronott1]

Awsome! Thanks, Ron! Do you mix it with their regular layer or just switch feeds while they are molting?

I gave it to them for about 4 weeks last year when they stopped laying and were looking bad.

You could give it to them for a week on and then a week off.

 

[ronott1]

I was able to get a picture of the molting hen.

Poor thing!





This is a picture of all four of them.

 

[Ballerina Bird]

I gave it to them for about 4 weeks last year when they stopped laying and were looking bad.

You could give it to them for a week on and then a week off.

Thank you! So helpful.