8 month Sicilian Buttercups losing feathers

[Fluster Cluck Acres]

Hi all. I got 2 Sicilian Buttercups this spring. I adore them! But they’re not loving winter in Maryland. I am not new to chickens, but I am new to these guys. Mostly I have birds that are more dual-climate conditioned breeds: Wyandottes, Marans, orpingtons, Barnevelders, etc…

These girls started laying at 5 months, mid September. I got 1-2 eggs daily. Then both quit laying Dec 1. Their combs have started to shrink. One girl seemed under the weather for about a week (less energetic, fluffed up) but now they’re both back to normal activity levels. Normal poops. Normal crops.

A couple days ago I noticed a bunch of feathers (various sizes) under where they roost. Yesterday I noticed Boston was missing neck feathers. Today, Blossom is missing neck feathers. Looks like molting…

No signs of mites. No other chickens (flock of 21) are missing feathers (save for a few gals recovering from age-appropriate molts). I have 3 other pullets (different breeds) also 8 months. They’re all still laying and feathers look fine.

Do Sicilian Buttercups molt at 8 months? Or does is look like a stress molt from the cold? Or something else?

 

[Debbie292d]

She's sure beautiful!

Around eight months, or sooner, a soft molt, or juvenile molt, can happen, and it is probably triggered by winter, aka the change in the amount of daylight. That would also explain them stopping laying eggs.

In my silkies, a couple of my younger ones, around 6-7 months, are doing this, and it's subtle by comparison of the older ones who do a normal molt and lose most of their feathers.

It's recommended to up the protein a bit to help with feather regrowth.

Ours are on 20% Kalmbach's Flock Maker, so I don't do anything feed-wise, but try to give them scrambled eggs more often than usual.

 

[speckledhen]

I back up what Debbie said. I have one exhibition Barred Rock pullet who began molting at 8 months. She quit laying, too, though I saw nothing of that magnitude in the other two hatchmates. It's pretty normal at 8-9 mos and you notice it in some more than others, even in the same pen.
Adding that mine were raised after the chick starter phase on 20% Tucker Milling Show Flock Developer and are still on it, similar to what Debbie feeds hers, I'd imagine. Ditto for the scrambled eggs and even mealworms or black soldier fly larvae help.

 

[Fluster Cluck Acres]

She's sure beautiful!

Thank you. They were a total impulse buy, lol, and so worth it!

Around eight months, or sooner, a soft molt, or juvenile molt, can happen, and it is probably triggered by winter, aka the change in the amount of daylight. That would also explain them stopping laying eggs.

This makes sense. I guess I’ve never had, or never noticed, other birds molting at this age.

I was also surprised by the “cold turkey” quit to egg laying. Generally my birds who don’t lay in the winter taper off their laying. But a molt makes more sense.

Ours are on 20% Kalmbach's Flock Maker, so I don't do anything feed-wise, but try to give them scrambled eggs more often than usual.

Mine get all flock feed as well, so they are getting protein, but I’ll give more eggs as well. They won’t complain!

 

[Fluster Cluck Acres]

I back up what Debbie said. I have one exhibition Barred Rock pullet who began molting at 8 months. She quit laying, too, though I saw nothing of that magnitude in the other two hatchmates. It's pretty normal at 8-9 mos and you notice it in some more than others, even in the same pen.

Weird how some do it and others don’t. If I’ve had other birds molt at this age, it’s never been this noticeable.

Adding that mine were raised after the chick starter phase on 20% Tucker Milling Show Flock Developer and are still on it, similar to what Debbie feeds hers, I'd imagine. Ditto for the scrambled eggs and even mealworms or black soldier fly larvae help.

I will bump up the scrambled egg feeding to help with feather regrowth. Poor girls were already chilly in the winter temps!

 

[Finnie]

Public Service Announcement: eggs are about 12-13% protein. Therefore if you supplement your 20% protein feed with eggs, you are actually lowering your birds’ protein intake.

Because eggs are considered a high protein food for humans, it is a common misconception that they are a high protein source for chickens.

Your 20% protein feed ought to be sufficient for molting and growing young chicks. Otherwise 16% feed is plenty high enough. If you want to boost protein, you can get 24% or higher gamebird feed. Cat food also generally contains a high percentage of protein.

 

[Debbie292d]

The difference in the amount of protein in a half cup of feed vs. half a cup of scrambled eggs is negligible because it's not the protein alone that helps with feather growth. They also contain helpful vitamins like A and E that support chickens during stress and molting.

Also, it's a treat. It's healthier and unmatched in nutrition/protein compared to most any other treat.

In the case of those who free range, they are indeed filling up on the higher protein treat, so eating less of whatever they get from dead grass and snow in the wintertime. It is a net increase of protein in their diet, among other things.

 

[Fluster Cluck Acres]

I am supplementing with scrambled eggs. They are very good foragers, and I was afraid the limited amount of foraging when the ground was frozen might have been impacting them a little. They don't gorge themselves on pellets the same way a lot of my other birds do- they always save room for foraged snacks.

Now that things have warmed back up they are back to their same shenanigans. Just doing it with a lot less feathers. I feel like I have a new breed. Think I’ll call it the Sicilian Naked Neck Buttercup, lol.

I’m still weirded out by the extent of this molt at this early age. Never seen it like this in all my chicken years.