First time

chestermanlee · Post by **chestermanlee** » 02 Nov 2011, 22:30

Hi

This is my first post but i am a frequent visitor. I am new to keeping hens, we have had our 2 Cream Legbars, 2 White leghorns and a Buff Orpington for three weeks.

Amazing how attached you get in such a short time and what good fun.

The 2 Legbars and Orpington have not layed in the 3 weeks we have had them. I am presuming that its the time of year. The Leghorns layed until 4 days ago then stopped, we were getting an egg every other day. I think they are moulting but i am not sure. Yes they are losing feathers and look a bit rough but they are eating really well and everything else seems fine.

The other hens dont seem to be moulting, do they moult at different times and is it every year.

how long should a moult last for, should they lay again after the moult and if they have stopped for the winter when should they start again.

Lots of questions, i have saved them all up.

Thanks

silverback · Post by **silverback** » 02 Nov 2011, 22:39

Hi There, and welcome in from the Dark!... )t'

Moulting will affect egg production, as the protein they eat to produce eggs gets diverted to producing new feathers. It maybe an idea to increase their protein levels during the moult, mealworms or maggots )t'

.
Not to sure about how long moults last, might vary from chook to chook, someone will give you the answer... )t'

Post by **Annie** » 02 Nov 2011, 22:46

Oh dear I struggle with saved up questions but I will try to answer some. First of all , do you know the ages of the chickens that havent laid yet , it may just be that they are too young to have started ? A moult can take 3-4 weeks or longer , one of my girls has been running round looking like a punk rocker for weeks now and I am really missing her lovely white eggs. I had hens last year that lay all through the winter , even when it was freezing cold and the days were short so who knows what goes on in their heads. Laying can be affected by the shortened days but I think its just a case of wait and see, they should all be laying come the Spring.
Would you like to share pics with us ?

Post by **Mad Chick** » 03 Nov 2011, 00:38

Hi

I've nothing to add to the excellent advice given above but just wanted to say Hi and welcome the the Lane :-D

janepick · Post by **janepick** » 03 Nov 2011, 01:24

Hiya

and welcome to the lane.
Soon find that after all the books we read and surfing the net absorbing all chicken info......the girls always throw us and lay and moult when we least expect or don't when we do expect

Post by **Totally Scrambled** » 03 Nov 2011, 01:55

Greetings and welcome to The Lane from us too.
Dom & Ali

Karhog · Post by **Karhog** » 03 Nov 2011, 02:51

Hi and welcome from me too- it's my first year keeping ckooks and they are also going through a moult...Guess it is wait and see what happens )t'

Post by **manda** » 03 Nov 2011, 06:06

Hi there and welcome to the Lane from me too..

The moult can go on for anything up to 6 months...some moult in 2-3 months dropping feathers and replacing them at the same time (these tend to be the "better" more prolific layers) and they are the ones who are a bit ragged looking.
Autumn / Winter is the time for them to do it though which is why they go off lay - it takes huge amounts of nutrients to grow feathers ( and lay eggs through the year...the winter gives them time to grow the new feathers and get a store of nutrients in their bodies again )t'

Steve the Gas · Post by **Steve the Gas** » 03 Nov 2011, 07:41

Welcome

Check any possible hidey holes Leghorns are sods for finding new secret places to lay!

chestermanlee · Post by **chestermanlee** » 03 Nov 2011, 18:41

Thanks for your replies. The moult only seems to be affecting the leghorns and one more than the other. Is it common for hens to eat feathers? it is so wet and windy in Scotland at the moment the feathers are mostly being blown away but one Leghorn seems to enjoy eating the odd small feather.

When it stops raining i will get some photos, that will probably be February next year. {cry}

Steve the Gas · Post by **Steve the Gas** » 03 Nov 2011, 18:44

They will eat small feathers to extract the protein from them, up the protein intake as said..... maggots are the biz. )t'

Post by **Annie** » 03 Nov 2011, 19:01

chestermanlee wrote:Thanks for your replies. The moult only seems to be affecting the leghorns and one more than the other. Is it common for hens to eat feathers? it is so wet and windy in Scotland at the moment the feathers are mostly being blown away but one Leghorn seems to enjoy eating the odd small feather.

When it stops raining i will get some photos, that will probably be February next year.

Crikey where abouts in Scotland are you then ? In my bit its still pouring in Feb,March, April {rofwl}

Spreckly · Post by **Spreckly** » 05 Nov 2011, 13:17

Welcome to this wonderful site, and all the best to you. I am a first time hen keeper, a steep, but fascinating learning curve.

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