The Chicken Club (The Flock)

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Comment by Alicia Wills on November 11, 2010 at 9:41am

Are you talking about molting, Kate, when they lose their feathers? The timing is different with every chicken, altho they often molt together. First molt is usually after they're a year old. Mine generally molt in the fall, although a couple do it in the summer. It can be concerning the first time you see it - some hens lose so many feathers they look like a supermarket hen - very bald. They're definitely not pretty when they're molting; they can be a little cranky and they don't lay. Need the energy to refurbish themselves. A good thing to do for your molting hens is to give them extra protein - which is a building block for new feathers - maybe some chick feed or fish meal or even cat food, I hear. Good luck with your bald ladies when it happens!

Comment by Kate Clark on November 10, 2010 at 7:44pm

When does this...shedding happen? Or whatever it is chickens do.

Comment by Alys Kennedy on October 22, 2010 at 10:38am

I have a feeling that good broody hens are kind of like good human moms, they come in all sizes, shapes, and breeds. I have had Red Stars, a variety of Banties, and Buffs, go broody, and the two latter were good mom's, and also an Australorp I have has gone broody right now. Since I didn't and still don't have a rooster, I had to break up the Red Stars intentions and am now working on the Australorp....and she is very determined and feisty about being a mom....every time you get close to her she poofs up into about twice her normal size and that takes some doing as she is normally quite large!! And, she growls at you as well. If she continues with her stubbornness, she will have to go in a little cage by herself. I keep telling her there are no fertile eggs here, and also that this is the wrong time of the year to make new babies, but she just ignores both statements and continues to growl at me. Also, adding to Ro's comments on Ameraucanas, Krista, Ameracaunas have wonderful personalities in my experience. I have one who is a total clown, and if I could figure out how to put a picture on this site, I would show you. When I am in the chicken house cleaning she often gets on my shoulder and rides around with me and she also plays a kind of come close and pet me - catch me if you can game with me, coming right up to within inches of my face and cooing, and then dashing off round the house to again jump onto my shoulder. What characters they are! Fun, delightful, and nourishing too! What more could we ask?!!

Jamie, sorry to hear about your wee chicks...I know it can be sad when that sort of thing happens...inspirations too, to make things even tighter and safer for them! So many learning curves we are given.

Comment by Jamie Jedinak on October 19, 2010 at 2:20pm

keep us posted on your progress and challenges!! :)

Comment by Krista Rome on October 19, 2010 at 2:16pm

Interesting. We have Australorps (new this year) and my housemate (the flock owner) wants Ameracaunas next year. I didn't think either were broody so I was going to try and assert my Orpington preference...Thanks for the feedback.

Comment by Ro Donelson on October 18, 2010 at 11:40am

My all time best mamas were Amerauncanas - faithful sitters, wonderful at hatching the full compliment of eggs, good at keeping the whole brood of chicks with her and being instructive about food, flight, etc and fiercely protective. They do tend to go off away from the flock to nest, so if you have free range chickens or a pen without an overhead net, you may not see your little ones from the very first. Watching mamas raising chicks is oh such fun!!!

Comment by Jamie Jedinak on October 17, 2010 at 8:36pm

I dog share and so the days she's not here the chickie free range.....I like that best b/c of the choices of food stuffs they have is better then being penned!

Comment by Charles Kelm on October 17, 2010 at 8:34pm

I have 3 dogs. The two golden retrievers would never hurt the chickens, but my third dog, which is kind of a tough mutt, has killed a couple. As soon as she's no longer with us, we are going to let our chickens roam free.

Comment by Jamie Jedinak on October 17, 2010 at 8:25pm

down another chick....sigh...one got out of the penned area thru the netting and my dog killed her.....sigh.....2 chicks, one I think is a roo....

Comment by Alicia Wills on October 17, 2010 at 8:09pm

I have an Australorp who was the best 'mama" I ever had. She went broody regularly over the years and finally got to have her chicks.
If anyone is looking for Roos, I have two who will either be ready for new homes or the freezer (with respect and appreciation) in a couple months. By best guess, they are both 1/4 Japanese bantam (grandsons of the renowned Rodney), 1/4 Auracauna .. and (1) 1/2 Rhodie Red and (2) 1/2 Auracauna. Mongrels but pretty ones, a little smaller given the bantie influence. Both pretty feisty, but then they're teenagers (!)

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