Comments on: this chicken is molting http://mayalassiter.com/2009/09/this-chicken-is-molting/ tracking the wild novelist in her native habitat (bring chocolate) Wed, 23 May 2012 13:26:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: maya http://mayalassiter.com/2009/09/this-chicken-is-molting/comment-page-1/#comment-17436 maya Fri, 09 Sep 2011 19:26:11 +0000 http://mayalassiter.com/blog/2009/09/this-chicken-is-molting/#comment-17436 Awww, poor baby. She's probably feeling poorly. That cat food thing is news to me, interesting. I hope she feels better soon! Awww, poor baby. She’s probably feeling poorly. That cat food thing is news to me, interesting. I hope she feels better soon!

]]> By: Amy http://mayalassiter.com/2009/09/this-chicken-is-molting/comment-page-1/#comment-17410 Amy Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:39:27 +0000 http://mayalassiter.com/blog/2009/09/this-chicken-is-molting/#comment-17410 Hi There, I, too, have a Rhode Island Red is seem to be moulting. She is crouching very low to the ground, we, too are finding it very odd. I've checked her for mites, but she seem so very skiddish now. I have also read that giving the moulting chickens cat food to improve their protien can help, since they lose so much during the moult. I can see the newly rolled up feather coming now, so we're hopeful that she will improve with her brand new feathers!! I just not caught her eating the cat food, Thank GOD!! She is still eating, pooping, but not sure about the laying, we'll keep an eye, glad we're not the only ones with a duck-like chicken!! Hi There,
I, too, have a Rhode Island Red is seem to be moulting. She is crouching very low to the ground, we, too are finding it very odd. I’ve checked her for mites, but she seem so very skiddish now. I have also read that giving the moulting chickens cat food to improve their protien can help, since they lose so much during the moult. I can see the newly rolled up feather coming now, so we’re hopeful that she will improve with her brand new feathers!! I just not caught her eating the cat food, Thank GOD!! She is still eating, pooping, but not sure about the laying, we’ll keep an eye, glad we’re not the only ones with a duck-like chicken!!

]]> By: maya http://mayalassiter.com/2009/09/this-chicken-is-molting/comment-page-1/#comment-15812 maya Thu, 30 Jun 2011 20:27:25 +0000 http://mayalassiter.com/blog/2009/09/this-chicken-is-molting/#comment-15812 Hi Maya 2, thank you for stopping by my blog! I've never had an aggressive chicken. If she's usually sweet tempered, I'd wonder if she's in pain and is sick, rather than simply molting. It's so hard to tell with chickens! Is she drinking and eating all right? Hi Maya 2, thank you for stopping by my blog! I’ve never had an aggressive chicken. If she’s usually sweet tempered, I’d wonder if she’s in pain and is sick, rather than simply molting. It’s so hard to tell with chickens! Is she drinking and eating all right?

]]> By: Maya 2! http://mayalassiter.com/2009/09/this-chicken-is-molting/comment-page-1/#comment-15788 Maya 2! Wed, 29 Jun 2011 22:19:19 +0000 http://mayalassiter.com/blog/2009/09/this-chicken-is-molting/#comment-15788 I have a chicken that I think is molting...but I don't really know that much about it. I'm obviously going to do more research on it, but she has been attacking anyone who tries to touch her or even gently move her out of the way (when feeding them or giving clean water) Have you ever had one that gets really aggressive? Or is this something else? Awesome name, by the way :) I have a chicken that I think is molting…but I don’t really know that much about it. I’m obviously going to do more research on it, but she has been attacking anyone who tries to touch her or even gently move her out of the way (when feeding them or giving clean water) Have you ever had one that gets really aggressive? Or is this something else?
Awesome name, by the way :)

]]> By: constance http://mayalassiter.com/2009/09/this-chicken-is-molting/comment-page-1/#comment-3431 constance Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:31:26 +0000 http://mayalassiter.com/blog/2009/09/this-chicken-is-molting/#comment-3431 Thanks again Maya for your help. I live in the wine country in California so I think I'm ok for now. I'll start reading your info about living in a yurt. Thanks again Maya for your help. I live in the wine country in California so I think I’m ok for now. I’ll start reading your info about living in a yurt.

]]> By: maya http://mayalassiter.com/2009/09/this-chicken-is-molting/comment-page-1/#comment-3279 maya Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:15:10 +0000 http://mayalassiter.com/blog/2009/09/this-chicken-is-molting/#comment-3279 I have wondered about the chickens being cold, too. I think the molting is triggered by the shortened daylight, so I reckon they are programmed to molt when they do, in the fall, for a reason. But if you live in a very cold place, such that fall is already getting around freezing, if it were me I might be thinking of ways to warm those chickens up at night. Closing up their house, maybe, or some kind of very-fire-safe heat for them. Around here, in the south, falls are pretty mild, so I've never felt like I needed to do anything, but I have considered it. I have wondered about the chickens being cold, too. I think the molting is triggered by the shortened daylight, so I reckon they are programmed to molt when they do, in the fall, for a reason. But if you live in a very cold place, such that fall is already getting around freezing, if it were me I might be thinking of ways to warm those chickens up at night. Closing up their house, maybe, or some kind of very-fire-safe heat for them. Around here, in the south, falls are pretty mild, so I’ve never felt like I needed to do anything, but I have considered it.

]]> By: constance http://mayalassiter.com/2009/09/this-chicken-is-molting/comment-page-1/#comment-3278 constance Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:05:28 +0000 http://mayalassiter.com/blog/2009/09/this-chicken-is-molting/#comment-3278 I have my first small flock (8) chickens, and was very alarmed to see the first one start to lose some feathers. There is now an area about 4" by 3" which is bare and then another one stared losing feathers and the whole pen was full of feathers. I was so glad to read your info. I thought they may have mites or something. Do you know if the chickens will stay warm enough at night without all of their feathers? Thanks. I have my first small flock (8) chickens, and was very alarmed to see the first one start to lose some feathers. There is now an area about 4″ by 3″ which is bare and then another one stared losing feathers and the whole pen was full of feathers. I was so glad to read your info. I thought they may have mites or something. Do you know if the chickens will stay warm enough at night without all of their feathers? Thanks.

]]> By: maya http://mayalassiter.com/2009/09/this-chicken-is-molting/comment-page-1/#comment-3139 maya Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:39:11 +0000 http://mayalassiter.com/blog/2009/09/this-chicken-is-molting/#comment-3139 Yes, Whitey is an Ameraucana and lays lovely blue eggs. She's such a trooper. Did you see the post shortly after the molting post where she got stuck in our electric goat fence?! Horror. But she has totally come through it and seems unaffected. Amazing! Yes, Whitey is an Ameraucana and lays lovely blue eggs. She’s such a trooper. Did you see the post shortly after the molting post where she got stuck in our electric goat fence?! Horror. But she has totally come through it and seems unaffected. Amazing!

]]> By: Sylvia http://mayalassiter.com/2009/09/this-chicken-is-molting/comment-page-1/#comment-3130 Sylvia Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:00:58 +0000 http://mayalassiter.com/blog/2009/09/this-chicken-is-molting/#comment-3130 Thank you for your encouraging reply. "Redhenley" looks completely bedraggled and prickly like your Whitey, only more so. I've been able to find a couple other posts describing this "crouching" walk, but not many follow up with the outcome. The one that did said their hen was fine after the molt. Redhenley is eating, drinking, jumping off her perch and landing in a balanced posture. Her droppings are normal, her eyes look bright, comb is bright red, feet look good. She just goes into a strange walk all of a sudden where she looks like a heavy hand is pressing down on her back. Then she'll straighten up again. It is just so odd. If she's just reacting to all the prickles on her wings, we could almost laugh at her. But we'll reserve that for when we're sure all is well. What kind of hen is Whitey? She looks like a silver version of our Ameraucana. She's gorgeous! I love your pictures. Thanks again Thank you for your encouraging reply. “Redhenley” looks completely bedraggled and prickly like your Whitey, only more so. I’ve been able to find a couple other posts describing this “crouching” walk, but not many follow up with the outcome. The one that did said their hen was fine after the molt. Redhenley is eating, drinking, jumping off her perch and landing in a balanced posture. Her droppings are normal, her eyes look bright, comb is bright red, feet look good. She just goes into a strange walk all of a sudden where she looks like a heavy hand is pressing down on her back. Then she’ll straighten up again. It is just so odd. If she’s just reacting to all the prickles on her wings, we could almost laugh at her. But we’ll reserve that for when we’re sure all is well.

What kind of hen is Whitey? She looks like a silver version of our Ameraucana. She’s gorgeous! I love your pictures. Thanks again

]]> By: maya http://mayalassiter.com/2009/09/this-chicken-is-molting/comment-page-1/#comment-3129 maya Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:08:21 +0000 http://mayalassiter.com/blog/2009/09/this-chicken-is-molting/#comment-3129 I don't know if different kinds of chickens act differently (some more aggressive, some more broody, etc) but I can say that mine act very embarassed when they are molting. This could be me anthropomorphizing them, but they hunker down, stay close to the chicken house, stay hidden. They are usually so confident and bossy, scolding the cat or demanding to be fed, etc. The shyness of molting is a striking contrast. Our Whitey is totally through her molt now and she is back to her old bossy, scolding self. I hope your gal get to feeling right again soon! I don’t know if different kinds of chickens act differently (some more aggressive, some more broody, etc) but I can say that mine act very embarassed when they are molting. This could be me anthropomorphizing them, but they hunker down, stay close to the chicken house, stay hidden. They are usually so confident and bossy, scolding the cat or demanding to be fed, etc. The shyness of molting is a striking contrast. Our Whitey is totally through her molt now and she is back to her old bossy, scolding self. I hope your gal get to feeling right again soon!

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