new member

hi everyone,
just discovered this site, very informative and a great range of topics.
Have been on a 3 acre block in Waitoki for a year now,loving it.
Have a couple of Fresian cross heifers to keep the grass down and a few chooks.
I have a brown shaver who has been losing quite a few feathers in the last day or so,some outside and some in the laying box, any ideas why this may be, she is healthy and eating and drinking normally.
thanks

welcome

shes proberbly starting to moult

Welcome KG. I have my first chooks too, 12 brown shavers, and am pleased I read up on moulting otherwise I would be concerned when it happens too.

thanks for the advice,
I have discovered some mites that I have been treating.
Feather loss quite bad, looks on the mend.

Some chooks just look REALLY bad when they moult, almost as if they've had a great big sneeze and blew off all their feathers at one go! I have a few who do that, and look just awful for a wee while. But they're the ones who also grow back their feathers rather quickly. You can help them get the new feathers in by supplementing with plain yoghurt and seaweed meal, along with some fresh garlic. To one cup of plain yoghurt, I add 1 tbsp of seaweed meal and a couple of cloves of crushed garlic. They LOVE it. They have that in addition to their layers' feed and barley.

For mites I dust with sulphur powder and make sure you have a clean chook house. I've found that dried wormwood helps keep them away from the coop.

Welcome to the forum, by the way!

Andrea - this magical Seaweed meal you speak of - I've made some enquiries around here and can't find it. where do you get yours from??????

I can't think of a single farm supply place around here that DOESN'T sell it. I use it for the chooks (at times), the goats and cattle beasts (all the time), and even the piggy gets it when she's lactating or growing piglets. I think maybe the CRT in Darfield doesn't sell it, but any place that's the least bit equine-oriented should have it....

Hi where in Waitoki are you? We are off Rapson Road:)