the trouble with chickens

i think one of our chickens is moulting.
she's dropping feathers left right and centre, is not laying, and now her comb has flopped over.
going to have to research this to see if it is indeed a moult, or if she's sick.
she's still eating...but has dropped a lot of weight.
neither of the chooks have moulted before...and they are about 3 weeks shy of their second birthday.

They do moult in the colder weather Tessa as you know, but it would not be cold there yet surely.

Hope its OK..

Sounds like she could be moulting. As long as she is eating, drinking and doesn't have diarrhoea she should be right. If she has gone this long laying continuously without a break she will have lost condition.

Mine are also moulting Tessa

ok...well...she's eating and drinking. not sure about diahrea as they're in a sandy run.
she looks *awful* all nakedish like that.
we're very worried about her.
but yes...she has layed almost every day for 1 and 3/4 years...so it was time for a moult...and it sounds like it's the right season for it too.
will keep you all informed of any changes (ie...will come crying to here).

Goodness I hope she is Ok Tessa

ok....think i'm logged on right
hi everyone, i've been coaxed into the moulting chook discussion.

idgy seems ok, she is eating and drinking, and is scratching and interested in things, but she does look pretty dishevelled.
does anyone know if moulting is uncomfortable?
she avoids being touched or picked up, and she was always the one who would just allow herself to be scooped up and patted
i'm a bit worried now the nights are cooler that she might get cold, she is much lighter than she used to be, so has obviously lost weight

Interesting name you have there, who was the coaxer

LOL
yes its been quite some time since i have posted, and it was on the old board
i'd say some of the "older" members may remember my chook interest

who coaxed me????....well, i will leave that unanswered for now, but no doubt some of you can answer that question

okies Oi you oldies , goss ploise

Hi PG, long time no see!

She sounds totally fine. I don't think it is painful though I'd imagine she could get itchy or slightly irritated. If a chook is sick they won't eat or drink and most likely have diarrhoea - if she has diarrhoea she will have a dirty rear. The chook will also sit in a corner somewhere all fluffed up and will obviously look sick. Moulting can make them look very scruffy and neglected... mine look terrible sometimes... but she won't get cold just make sure she has plenty of healthy food.

I'll see if I have any moulting chooks at the moment and take a photo later if there is any there.

Tessa poor little chookie is not feeling well.

Hi L how are you, its been ages, that no good about idgy I do hope she is only moulting..

I cannot remember the last time ours moulted but I do remember they were real scruffy looking we have four new ones now, 14 mts old so I guess they will moult this year..

Best avatar yet MA.

So L =

hi MA and gail
nice to be back
i have been watching from the wings from time to time
but only now have i had a chance to register again



i think i've mentioned before that our two won't eat chook pellets. a few weeks ago i thought i'd try to train them to eat them by adding it to their food until they ate it. Well twice i have found the pellet bag moved and the last time it was nearly empty with very definite dog tooth marks in it!!!!! and this is the dog who used to be very fussy....now will even eat chook pellets.

LOL little miss....you are certainly curious

Cheryl, I can't find the original post about Tessa wanting to get a couple of chicks but she had to do a lot of begging to talk PG into getting some

http://gardendelights.forumco.com/topic~ARCHIVE~true~TOPIC_ID~163.asp

Avatar what the back Yard.. Thanks Cheryl..

What do the two eat L, do they eat the mixed grain sorry I cannot think of the name.

Amazing what dogs eat at times.. Xena well she is just a normal type dog then

yes....thats so right
i had forgotten that it was you lot who encouraged her to get the chicks
i held out as long as i could and then crumbled, and have been besotten ever since!!!


what do they eat????.....well you will no doubt raise your eyebrows

i buy cheapbrand frozen corn and thaw some for them, mixed with a mince and barley mixture that i make for them and keep in the fridge, add whatever left overs we have, and a couple of handfuls of wheat, some lettuce leaves, and some grit

now do you understand why they turn their beaks up at chook pellets???/...LOL

Quote :

yes....thats so right
i had forgotten that it was you lot who encouraged her to get the chicks
i held out as long as i could and then crumbled, and have been besotten ever since!!!

Guilty

These couple of feeds often tempt fussy eaters... just to supplement what you are giving them. Most produce stores sell them.

http://www.agriproducts.com.au/agri/poultry_grain_mix_2008.html

http://www.agriproducts.com.au/agri/poultry_top_layer_mash.html

Yes it was us girls Bet ya us now though as they are two of the Family...

Talk about spoilt humm lucky duckys I mean chookys

Yes I can understand why they turn their beaks up..

Quote :

LOL little miss....you are certainly curious

yeps, and I'm still lost

could some-one else please put little miss out of her misery?

MA, Gail etc... where are you when I need you

PG aka Liz and Tessa share a house and Tessa wanted chooks but Liz didn't... at first.

and they drove all over the countryside to find some

gee they were cute little bubs, and if i remember rightly, they were addicted to the telly as well

edit: i mean the chickens of course, not liz and tessa