Winter molting-

[Marti5]

Hi, I posted last month that my Delaware girl was sick with diarrhea etc. I did get some great info here and she popped back. But now the gal is molting..and it’s January! She’s 1.5 yrs old and it’s her first molt.
QUESTION: Are there DIY herbs, etc that I can give her to help her along? She has a sister that fusses over her. And two RRs that could care less. Ha. Thank you!

 

[GodLovesU]

Can you post a picture?

 

[Themellowyellows]

Hi, I posted last month that my Delaware girl was sick with diarrhea etc. I did get some great info here and she popped back. But now the gal is molting..and it’s January! She’s 1.5 yrs old and it’s her first molt.
QUESTION: Are there DIY herbs, etc that I can give her to help her along? She has a sister that fusses over her. And two RRs that could care less. Ha. Thank you!

How bad is her molt and how cold is it where you are? Not sure about herbs, but protien helps keep chickens body warm.

 

[Marti5]

A picture. They’re sleeping now and it’s snowing. I can get some tomorrow tho. She does have the typical molting look like the others did. But she HAS had a bare underbelly for months. I thought it was from the wooden 2x2 I have for their roosting perch. My two Delawares have never had great balance, they’re heavy birds, so I moved the perch way low so she’d have an easy choice of sleeping on the straw or the perch. Now that it’s cold they all like being cuddled together on the straw. But I digress, I’ll send a pic. She no longer has diarrhea. Do you think her loss of feathers is from something else?!
Thank you!

 

[Marti5]

How bad is her molt and how cold is it where you are? Not sure about herbs, but protien helps keep chickens body warm.

How bad is her molt and how cold is it where you are? Not sure about herbs, but protien helps keep chickens body warm.

I’m still feeding layer grain thru the winter so I think she’s getting enough protein.

Marti5​

In the Brooder​

Id send a picture but they’re sleeping now and it’s snowing. It’s been from 40 to 19 (at night) then back to 40 for a month. The average daytime temp is 42-38. She does have the typical molting look like the others did. But she HAS had a bare underbelly for months. I thought it was from the wooden 2x2 I have for their roosting perch. My two Delawares have never had great balance, they’re heavy birds, so I moved the perch way low so she’d have an easy choice of sleeping on the straw or the perch. Now that it’s cold they all like being cuddled together on the straw. But I digress, I’ll send a pic. She no longer has diarrhea. Do you think her loss of feathers is from something else?!
Thank you!

 

[WoDia]

@Marti5 There are things you can do to help your hen through her molt. Provide extra protein— meal worms, tuna, scrambled eggs, scraps of meat, etc. The protein is crucial with helping healthy feather regrowth. Layer feed/oyster shell isn’t as important for her during this time, because extra protein is needed more. A molt can last months. I currently have Buff Orpingtons molting. I provide a higher % feed, along with higher protein treats.

If your girl’s not shivering, she should be fine. She has her flock mates to help keep her warm. But, if you’re noticing that she is actually too cold, I suggest a radiant heat panel. She can cozy up to it for a little added warmth.

Here’s also an article that may be helpful:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...tein-foods-for-chickens-during-molting.78071/

You asked about other issues that may induce molting. If she’s stressed in any way, that could trigger it. If the roost is too rough for her, that may help explain the missing belly feathers. I hope this has been helpful.

 

[Marti5]

@Marti5 There are things you can do to help your hen through her molt. Provide extra protein— meal worms, tuna, scrambled eggs, scraps of meat, etc. The protein is crucial with helping healthy feather regrowth. Layer feed/oyster shell isn’t as important for her during this time, because extra protein is needed more. A molt can last months. I currently have Buff Orpingtons molting. I provide a higher % feed, along with higher protein treats.

If your girl’s not shivering, she should be fine. She has her flock mates to help keep her warm. But, if you’re noticing that she is actually too cold, I suggest a radiant heat panel. She can cozy up to it for a little added warmth.

Here’s also an article that may be helpful:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...tein-foods-for-chickens-during-molting.78071/

You asked about other issues that may induce molting. If she’s stressed in any way, that could trigger it. If the roost is too rough for her, that may help explain the missing belly feathers. I hope this has been helpful.

I don’t have a rooster, but there has been construction going on nxt door off and on for months. She’s the only one affected by it tho.
Thanks for the info. I’ll up her protein then.

 

[WoDia]

I don’t have a rooster, but there has been construction going on nxt door off and on for months. She’s the only one affected by it tho.
Thanks for the info. I’ll up her protein then.

Oh I meant her roost, but at least you can check a rough rooster off the possibility list. Being her first adult molt (and any additional stress like her recent diarrhea) must be rough for her. I look forward to seeing photos with her new feathers.
Please keep us updated.

 

[Marti5]

Oh I meant her roost, but at least you can check a rough rooster off the possibility list. Being her first adult molt (and any additional stress like her recent diarrhea) must be rough for her. I look forward to seeing photos with her new feathers.
Please keep us updated.

Ha, I sure misread THAT. Yes, I’ll keep an updated. Thank you.

 

[WoDia]

Ha, I sure misread THAT. Yes, I’ll keep an updated. Thank you.

You’re welcome!