Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[rural mouse]

Inky, with her unprecedented rapid molting, has been exhibiting neurological issues. :-(

This morning, she was walking funny, like not able to walk straight and has to walk sideways (sometimes in circles). Is that something people have experienced from their hard molting chickens? I hope it is temporary.

If she's got a mess of pin feathers on her legs/belly, if can make her gait odd. Once the feathers open out, even if they're still growing, it should subside. If it doesn't, there's something more going on.

 

[lightm]

Not my personal experience but I think I've seen people say that sometimes their chickens seem to do this because all the new pin feathers growing in around their legs are so uncomfortable.

Hopefully it might just be that?

I have had birds with balance issues during a hard moult, and your question brought to mind a bit I noted from Jenni and Winkler chap 3 sect 4: "birds normally do 'nothing else' or are unable to do 'anything else' during a fairly rapid moult. In turn, this relative inactivity during moult is probably caused by the many non-energetic costs of moult, such as impaired flight, greatly reduced maximum oxygen consumption and impaired plumage function (waterproofing, display, insulation etc.), all with potentially negative consequences for survival." There's a lot going on beneath the hood, so to speak: moult is not just about feathers. So I wouldn't worry for now and just keep on with the tlc.

I was actually worried about this for Peck because the molt was so hard. The few times ours have had issues like that, it's been in the beginning of the molt and lasts from a few hours to a few days.

I'd make sure she's getting enough to drink (if not, don't be afraid to gently dip the tip of her beak in a little bowl of water from time to time) and offer her favorite foods at moments when you think she might be open to eating a few calories.

Thank you all for chiming in. This is very helpful and comforting!

I will do what you suggest @HiEverybirdy

 

[lightm]

If she's got a mess of pin feathers on her legs/belly, if can make her gait odd. Once the feathers open out, even if they're still growing, it should subside. If it doesn't, there's something more going on.

I don't think there are pin feathers on her legs, not sure about belly. Will observe when I go back home. Thanks~

 

[Shadrach]

alk sideways (sometimes in circles). Is that something people have experienced from their hard molting chickens?

I have had birds with balance issues during a hard moult, and your question brought to mind a bit I noted from Jenni and Winkler chap 3 sect 4: "birds normally do 'nothing else' or are unable to do 'anything else' during a fairly rapid moult. In turn, this relative inactivity during moult is probably caused by the many non-energetic costs of moult, such as impaired flight, greatly reduced maximum oxygen consumption and impaired plumage function (waterproofing, display, insulation etc.), all with potentially negative consequences for survival." There's a lot going on beneath the hood, so to speak: moult is not just about feathers. So I wouldn't worry for now and just keep on with the tlc.

The book Perris has referenced can be read online here.
I haven't tried the download option. The book is interesting but it's expensive.
https://www.scribd.com/document/919...ines-2nd-Edition-Lukas-Jenni-digital-download