Is Your Chicken Changing Feather? Here's How to Take Care of It
Chicken molting becomes an annual cycle that must be done. Usually molting is done at the end of the egg-laying period. If in a country with four seasons, then they will do it in autumn. One of the characteristics of molting is the occurrence of changes in the comb, the comb will look duller and paler. Then, the hair will fall out just like that. Change of chicken feathers can also be seen from the time of laying eggs. Chickens will usually replace their feathers after hatching the eggs.
Chicken molting becomes an annual cycle that must be done. Usually molting is done at the end of the egg-laying period. If in a country with four seasons, then they will do it in autumn. One of the characteristics of molting is the occurrence of changes in the comb, the comb will look duller and paler. Then, the hair will fall out just like that. Change of chicken feathers can also be seen from the time of laying eggs. Chickens will usually replace their feathers after hatching the eggs.
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| Is Your Chicken Changing Feather? Here's How to Take Care of It |
Perhaps, there is a question of why the poultry should replace it? The first reason provide regeneration so that his abilities can increase. Please note that feathers have an important function for birds. Even though it has been treated in such a way, dirty conditions will carry a lot of germs and bacteria attached to the chicken feathers, this makes the chickens feel uncomfortable. These changes will help them fight various types of insects and extreme weather. This is especially evident in Europe, where they will do so in the fall. This aims to protect themselves when entering winter, according to the pattern of the sequence. This is the reason they do this.
The time it takes a chicken to change feathers
The time required varies, some take 6 weeks to 12 weeks. The older the chicken will take longer the protein content has decreased. Usually, these birds will make changes at the age of 19 months. Besides being able to see from its characteristics, you can also estimate when this change is from its age. Do not forget to do intensive care.
How to take care of chickens replace feathers
To treat it, you need to give it a variety of foods that are rich in protein and keratin. This is because the poultry requires a large amount of energy so it will affect its quality later. With sufficient protein levels in the body, the beauty of the fur can be seen. Especially for ornamental chicken breeders, these conditions must be considered carefully so that the quality does not decrease, especially the fulfillment of mineral content.
It is recommended to provide protein intake with a level of 16%. Avoid giving food with too large calories because it can make it fatter and less good. The next treatment is not to put the chickens in the cage for too long. Try to release them into the wild so they can flap their wings. It acts as a relaxant of some muscles. Next, separate the female and male birds. Please note that these feathers contain very high phosphorus. This level is very liked by hens because it includes super delicious food. It is feared that if the two are combined, it will interfere with the replacement process.
One important note to speed up this process, when they show signs of wanting to be replaced, cage them in a cage and close it. Don't open it unless you want to feed it. You can wait until all the hair falls out, then open it and follow the instructions above. When the whole transformation process is complete, don't forget to add the rice and corn mixture.
Effect of Feathering on Egg Production
If anyone asks whether this process will affect egg production? The answer is yes, why is that? This egg-laying process requires very high protein levels. Meanwhile, the process for changing the fur is also the same. The required level reaches 80%, they have difficulty doing it at the same time. No wonder if the replacement process takes place, the chicken will stop production,n or the production will be very low.
Chicken molting will also affect the quality of the eggs. Protein levels are the cause because too much energy used has an impact on egg quality that is less than optimal.