Pecking problems....

[frias]

Sorry didn't explain myself properly. If chickens that lay eat food with medication in then humans shouldn't eat the eggs.
If Spotty starts laying again I'll feed her eggs back to the chicks but don't think she will yet. Still in broody coop although it's going to be a bit tight soon as chicks growing fast.

[RichmondHens]

Grower feed shouldn't have medication in it. Some chick crumb does, and not all brands sell unmedicated crumb, but if your chicks are now on growers you shouldn't need to worry. Check the label to be sure, but if it has added medication it should say something like "WITH ADDED ACS" or similar.

[di]

Don't know if it's of any help/reassurance to you Bobbie,but a few of ours are moulting at the moment...theirs feathers everywhere!
Do they moult at a certain time of year or is it more to do with their age?
Hope Bertha gets over whatever she's going through quickly.xx

[frias]

Grower feed shouldn't have medication in it. Some chick crumb does, and not all brands sell unmedicated crumb, but if your chicks are now on growers you shouldn't need to worry. Check the label to be sure, but if it has added medication it should say something like "WITH ADDED ACS" or similar.

My growers said it had anti coccidial in it.

[Bephlam]

Mine has nothing in it...I buy organic, non GM stuff...it has no added anything. So, I think I'm safe on the medication front. Phew!!

I don't like feeding any of my animals anything unnecessarily.

My favs have already moulted....for about 6 weeks 3 or 4 weeks ago their run looked like someone had burst several pillows in there and they went off lay. They're looking lovely now, and back to laying 1 a day each....hopefully throughout the winter. So, maybe Bertha is just moulting at a different time.

I wasn't even sure if she'd have a moult this year...she was born Dec 08 and started laying April 09...so she is due a moult, eh?

The stress these birds cause...Di/Andi...how are your little ones coming along? Pics?

[frias]

I don't buy organic but do buy non GM. I thought the medication was a good idea so chickens don't get Coccidiosis.
Your're not kidding about the stress. I went to bed last night worrying myself sick about one of mine, then this morning she was fine. Cleaned the coop at 6pm tonight then one of the girls went in the nest box and laid me the perfect egg, except the shell was laid after the egg! Don't know how she managed to do that without breaking it. I had trouble picking it up.
Wouldn't be without them though would we?

[Hashette]

Your're not kidding about the stress. I went to bed last night worrying myself sick about one of mine

Wouldn't be without them though would we?

Tell me about it - even when I'm asleep I'm dreaming about them. The other night I was tossing and turning and dreaming about someone laying ludicrously large eggs. I gave up in the end, wandered downstairs for a cup of tea and my eyes came out on stalks when I saw what was on the draining board

Then I realised that hubby had got a couple of rolls out of the freezer for his lunch the following day!

Mine are all moulting too, although not nearly as badly as Bertha. I thought it was a bit early but maybe the weird weather's got something to do with it

[MaureenHall]

My ex-batts who looked like oven-readies with heads and feet have all grown most of their feathers back now, but now they're moulting!!! Down to 2 eggs a day from 10 of them so hopefully in another couple of weeks when they've stopped dropping their remaining tatty feathery bits all over the garden, we'll be back to a reasonable amount of eggs each day

[Polly Fouracre]

I always buy organic feeds but,even then, you must check the ingredients as what may be acceptable to the organic folk may not be acceptable to you!