But of course I am impatient. I am giving Lorelei (Australorp, frayed feathers and NOT the broody - Nicholas) her eggstra calcium in form of One Tums a day crushed in some cottage cheese. I will be doing this for a week and then I will look into the thing where you can stop the egg development and let her molt in peace. I hope it is molting. I still haven't heard from other Australorp owners if the frayed tail feathers are an indicator for molt?? Mine haven't really molted yet, I believe. They are only 1 1/2 years old and I've never noticed a lot of feathers in the coop. So I am a novice at that.
Those frayed tail feathers aren't an indication of molt. THey typically do molt in late summer, and if they haven't already, they should be soon. I've had one go through a molt already this year, a bit early, but if one has begun, others are to follow.
Newhenstein, I really think if it was a calcium issue, it would have been resolved by now. It doesn't take days on end to see results...typically just a few, if this is the issue. I hate to sound like a wet blanket, but I think you have something more serious going on. I HOPE I am wrong, and that when she molts, it will work out...I'm so sorry!
No vet Nicholas. She seems to be doing just dandy and I am still holding on to what this lady in my neighborhood said about her Australorp molting. I am still working on her exstra calcium regimen. I keep seeing some feathers of the others laying around now. So maybe that;'s really all there is to it.