When only one molts

[Ajoy1955]

What do you do, when only one hen is starting a molt, and the others are not, how do you feed for the one molting and make sure the active layers are getting the nutrition they need?

 

[CoopBoots]

I do a higher protein feed (a 20% all flock or chick starter) and offer oyster shell on the side. This is actually my strategy for the entire year since I'm almost always hatching babies and I keep several roosters, and none of them would benefit from all the calcium in layer feed anyway.

 

[Ajoy1955]

I do a higher protein feed (a 20% all flock or chick starter) and offer oyster shell on the side. This is actually my strategy for the entire year since I'm almost always hatching babies and I keep several roosters, and none of them would benefit from all the calcium in layer feed anyway.

So it won’t hurt my other hens to have a higher protein?

 

[tlcmurphy]

So it won’t hurt my other hens to have a higher protein?

No

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Agreed I feed 20% year round and don’t have any health issues in my flock.

 

[aart]

I do a higher protein feed (a 20% all flock or chick starter) and offer oyster shell on the side. This is actually my strategy for the entire year since I'm almost always hatching babies and I keep several roosters, and none of them would benefit from all the calcium in layer feed anyway.

Ditto Dat.
I don't hatch any more, nor have any males in the flock, but it still works.

 

[Ajoy1955]

No

What’s crazy is, her bottom feathers are coming out like crazy, I checked her vent and around the area for lice or nits and saw nothing! I thought a molt typically starts at the head?

 

[tlcmurphy]

Is she being plucked by her friends?

 

[aart]

What’s crazy is, her bottom feathers are coming out like crazy, I checked her vent and around the area for lice or nits and saw nothing! I thought a molt typically starts at the head?

How old is this bird, in months?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Is she being plucked by her friends?

x2. This sounds more like feather picking. Photos would help.