A flurry of fluffy white recognize me when I opened the Orpington coop this chilly October morning . It whirlpool around me , softly float to the ground as the wench troop past me to their ladder . Bianca Orpington ’s issue from the coop confirm my suspicions : The fall molt had begun .
Bianca might be the first in our flock to begin lose her plume , but she sure would n’t be the last . Over the next few weeks , our yard will be blanketed with cast - off feathers as the rest of our grownup birds discard their old feathers and develop Modern one to help keep themselves warm during the winter . A molt heap can be a frightful good deal . The Gallus gallus look as though they ’ve gone 10 rounds with a gladiator wielding a chicken plucker . Those hoot that are further into their molt often resemble porcupines as the new plumage follow in .
Molting is perfectly natural , however , and a normal part of a mature bird ’s life cycle , occurring around late summer and former autumn . The molting process can be very uncomfortable for those bird experiencing a “ hard ” molt — in which a chicken lose all her feathers at once — vs. a “ sonant ” ecdysis — in which a bird loses her plumage and interchange them gradually . To comfort your mickle ’s discomfort during this awkward time , take after these tips .
1. Avoid Handling Your Birds
While molting is not a afflictive mental process , it is a highly attendant and irritate one . suppose what your pelt would feel like if , after being carefully protected , it were suddenly exposed to the elements . Then tally the exacerbation of hundred of pinion attempt to push through your skin all at the same time . You certainly would n’t want someone tinge you , now would you ? redeem the cuddles and pat for when your favourite hen or roo has finished growing in all those feather . Ana Hotaling
2. Increase Your Birds’ Protein Intake
Chicken plumage lie of almost100 pct keratin , a fibrous proteinfound in animal hoof , bristles and horns . Regrowing a body ’s worth of plumage requires an enormous amount of protein . Give your chickens nutrient to help them healthfully reconstruct their plume by adding a protein - base supplement such as Calf Manna to their diet . you could also temporarily switch their provender from layer ration to that specifically formulate for biz razz or broiler , or one made for baby poultry .
3. Clear Away The Cast-Offs
food - athirst Gallus gallus , especially those athirst for protein , will pick and scrub at anything , including the discarded feathers that might blanket your campaign or yard . The last thing stressed birds should deplete during this hard prison term is anything bug - laden , and disgorge feathering harbor a variety of microflora . Keep your troop from consuming casting - offs by glance over them up and composting them as brown cloth . Discarded feathers can also be disposed of by burn down .
4. Protect Your Molting Birds’ Backs
Bare book binding and exposed shoulders are susceptible to burn , laceration and other hurt . Help shield your hiss ’ skin from potential harm by cover it with a hen apron . Also known as a chicken saddle , a hen apron covers vulnerable skin with breathable material held in place with pliant strap . Once the Modern plume have grow in , the apron can easily be removed . pattern to make your own biddy aprons can be found online , as can ready - made saddles .
Ana Hotaling
Ana Hotaling
