Archived. They will choose a nesting spot and can believe they are incubating eggs, even when all eggs are removed daily. Close. When a chicken molts it is important to make sure that its given a high-quality diet despite not laying eggs. around his eyes and mouth looks really bad (idk how to describe) and i can't tell if he's molting or sick? This thread is archived. Then she���ll enter her second lay cycle. today he looks really scruffy and keeps doing this weird thing it looks like he's regurgitating or something and he won't stop doing it. Instead, slowly mix the feeds together over the course of a week ��� gradually increasing the ratio of new feed to current feed. Such low temperatures, however, is a stressor for chickens and can make them susceptible to a number of infectious agents. Anemia 18 comments. The story of our chicken's first molt and their very odd behavior. A molting hen usually hangs around the coop as she gradually sheds her old feathers. The chicken might have been molting but molting shouldn't be considered the cause of death. See more ideas about molting chickens��� Read more: Chicken First Aid Kit and Sick Bay Shop for molting hens: (click on the image to go to the Amazon store) Molting Chickens on June 2, 2014 Molting chickens can look really bad and, as an animal carer/owner, can inspire feelings of guilt in that perhaps you���re not looking after your feathered friends well enough. A hard molt can result in rough looking birds with bald areas, much like a chick who is gaining feathers for the first time. During spring and summer months some hens go broody. A molting chicken is not necessarily sick; while a chicken can become sick during a molt, molting is not a symptom of illness. Backyard chickens are pretty easy to care for on any homestead, but just like other animals they can fall ill sometimes. My friend who is a very experienced chicken keeper told us she too had a molting bird. Follow this board to learn more about molting chickens. report. With soft molting, you may not notice an adult chicken losing or gaining feathers. share. I sure think so! 3 years ago. 15 Common Chicken Diseases: What To Know Treating chickens can be difficult and intimidating, especially if you have no clue or idea what you're dealing with. During this annual event, chickens take a break from laying eggs to shed feathers and grow new plumage. She���ll eat heartily but won���t lay eggs. save. Molting is the process whereby an animal will shed its fur, skin, exoskeleton and in a chicken���s case their feathers. Since chicken feathers are about 90% protein (actually they are made of keratin, the same protein fiber that makes up hair, fingernails and the hooves of other animals), 8% water and the rest water-insoluble fats, adding a bit of protein to your flock's diet during molting season can help them grow their new feathers in quicker to prepare for the winter cold. Molting or sick chicken? best. A chicken lethargic that is unusually slow and unresponsive may be quite sick. Posted by 3 years ago. here's a pic 91% Upvoted. For chickens, it is usually at the beginning of the autumn months where they will shed their older feathers to make room for new warmer ones. I had to make sure that was the issue. Sep 23, 2019 - A key moment in the chicken raising journey is molt. hide. Molting happens once a year and is a natural process which sometimes causes a slightly paler comb. If you���ve noticed feathers on the floor of your coop, the pale comb could be down to molting. Personality changes during molt are written about frequently on pet bird and backyard You can use this as a reference��� In fact her birds generally molted late and they have always survived the cold. level 1. Your run and coop will look as though a feather pillow has exploded and you may worry about what is happening to your chickens. 4. Some chicken keepers switch their feed during molting season, from a layer feed to a higher-protein grower or broiler feed. | Whole-Fed Homestead New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. 9. A spray of Blu-Kote on the damaged area usually does the trick, and the chicken can be returned to the flock when there is no longer any sign of blood. This was my first experience with a molting bird and I couldn���t figure out why she was molting in winter and not fall, which is normal. Sort by. Over the next five or six weeks she���ll grow new feathers, build up her body weight and condition, and emerge looking like she just stepped out of a chicken spa. i've had my budgie for almost four years now, and lately he's been fluffed up and sleeping 24/7. Unless she was attacked it looks like molting. Molting or sick chicken? It usually takes place about once or twice a year for an adult bird. So as the weather turns cold and our ladies stop laying, I���ve been doing some research to understand this process better and to help rid myself of unfounded guilt. . Sick chickens may be lethargic, show poor coloration or texture in the feathers, may eat or drink less, and may produce weakened or fewer eggs. Molting occurs in the late summer and early fall. Are they all Dominiques? To help you and your flock, we���ve gathered information on some of the most common poultry illnesses. This might include chicken mites, chicken lice, picking (a condition where chickens peck at one another due to stress, lack of food or water, or overcrowding), molting, and various chicken diseases. Molting is perfectly normal. Feb 1, 2019 - Do chickens act strange when molting? During this time of year your chickens will shed old, worn out feathers and replace them with new��� Chickens do love to sun bathe and take naps but should jump up quickly if disturbed. If you choose to go this route, avoiding making a sudden switch in feeds. Molting.