Are my chickens molting during winter??

[ChickenLittle5]

I noticed today that several of my pullets (they’re probably 10 months old) are loosing feathers. One has a large bald area on her back. If I were guessing, I’d say the bald spot is probably 4” x 6”. One of the Bielefelders feathers are all curled up and frizzy looking. I’m not really sure how to explain her look, but it is rough. Since it is winter and there is snow on the ground, I assumed it might be the roosters instead of molting. How do I know what it is? We are getting 11-13 eggs/day from 15 pullets, so there is not a decrease in egg production like I read would occur during a molt. How do I keep my chickens from freezing if they have bald spots in the winter? We have a heat lamp (red bulb) in the coop. Is that messing up their molt cycle and causing them to molt in the middle of winter? I’ll try to take photos & upload them tomorrow. I didn’t have my phone with me this evening.

 

[NatJ]

I assumed it might be the roosters instead of molting. How do I know what it is? We are getting 11-13 eggs/day from 15 pullets, so there is not a decrease in egg production like I read would occur during a molt.

Probably the roosters, because the pullets are still laying well, and because of where the bald patches are.

 

[aart]

Probably the roosters, because the pullets are still laying well, and because of where the bald patches are.

Ditto Dat.

I’ll try to take photos & upload them tomorrow.

That would be good.

We have a heat lamp (red bulb) in the coop.
Is that messing up their molt cycle and causing them to molt in the middle of winter?

Not going to make them molt, but dangerous and not necessary.

 

[ChickenLittle5]

Attached are photos. One is missing her feathers and the others look wet and frizzy? Thoughts on how to treat them? The black one kept running from me, but from the photo it looks like the bald skin might be inflamed on one side.

@aart, I know the heat lamp isn't necessary. I told the kids "no" a thousand times, but when I was away from home they cried to their dad that the chickens were going to freeze. I've told them it needs to come down, but it started snowing again when I started to remove it and I didn't want to pull the heat right as it was getting colder.

 

[ChickenLittle5]

I should also add that some of the other girls have some small, quarter-sized, bald spots, but nothing like this poor chicken.

 

[rosemarythyme]

The wet looking one... did she look like that all day? Really does look like she got wet from rolling around in something...

The black one is either rooster damage or being pecked on (I don't have a rooster to compare).

 

[nuthatched]

Attached are photos. One is missing her feathers and the others look wet and frizzy? Thoughts on how to treat them? The black one kept running from me, but from the photo it looks like the bald skin might be inflamed on one side.

View attachment 2507792View attachment 2507793@aart, I know the heat lamp isn't necessary. I told the kids "no" a thousand times, but when I was away from home they cried to their dad that the chickens were going to freeze. I've told them it needs to come down, but it started snowing again when I started to remove it and I didn't want to pull the heat right as it was getting colder.

Tell them the next time they whine and try to work their parents like that, the chickens will be given to a new home.
Take out the lamp, it could set your coop on fire or give off teflon fumes that will kill them or if the power goes out, the could go into shock.
Saddles will be a good idea for barebacked hens.

 

[NatJ]

Take out the lamp,... if the power goes out, the could go into shock.

Taking the lamp out, or having the power go out, BOTH cause the lamp to be suddenly gone. The only difference is that you control when you take it out, while a power outage happens at an unexpected time.

I know the heat lamp isn't necessary. I told the kids "no" a thousand times, but when I was away from home they cried to their dad that the chickens were going to freeze. I've told them it needs to come down, but it started snowing again when I started to remove it and I didn't want to pull the heat right as it was getting colder.

You could hide the heat lamp where they can't find it in future
(Although that won't stop a determined adult from going to the store and buying another one.)

I would probably take the lamp down anyway. If the chickens only had the lamp for a few days or a week, they won't be too much used to it yet. So I would be expect them to be fine in temperatures down to 20 degrees or so (Farenheit).

 

[ChickenLittle5]

The wet looking one... did she look like that all day? Really does look like she got wet from rolling around in something...

The black one is either rooster damage or being pecked on (I don't have a rooster to compare).

She has looked like that for at least a couple days now. She isn’t wet, she just looks that way.

Tell them the next time they whine and try to work their parents like that, the chickens will be given to a new home.
Take out the lamp, it could set your coop on fire or give off teflon fumes that will kill them or if the power goes out, the could go into shock.
Saddles will be a good idea for barebacked hens.

There is no chance of Teflon fumes. These lights are designed as heat lamps for poultry. Hubby just didn’t realize they shouldn’t need them at this age and I‘ve been waiting for some mild weather to unplug it.

Taking the lamp out, or having the power go out, BOTH cause the lamp to be suddenly gone. The only difference is that you control when you take it out, while a power outage happens at an unexpected time.



You could hide the heat lamp where they can't find it in future
(Although that won't stop a determined adult from going to the store and buying another one.)

I would probably take the lamp down anyway. If the chickens only had the lamp for a few days or a week, they won't be too much used to it yet. So I would be expect them to be fine in temperatures down to 20 degrees or so (Farenheit).

I’d hide the lamp, but hubby now knows they don’t need it for these temps and I want to make sure he can find them if the temps do drop. It is rare, but it has gotten super cold here. My dad remembers when all their chickens froze to death one winter! I’m am glad the kids are compassionate enough to be concerned about the animals getting too cold.

The lamp has been on for a month. Hopefully, we will get a warm spell, soon so I can remove it. Although now I’m not sure I should if a few have bald backs?? Thoughts on that?

 

[CluckerFamily]

She has looked like that for at least a couple days now. She isn’t wet, she just looks that way.

There is no chance of Teflon fumes. These lights are designed as heat lamps for poultry. Hubby just didn’t realize they shouldn’t need them at this age and I‘ve been waiting for some mild weather to unplug it.

I’d hide the lamp, but hubby now knows they don’t need it for these temps and I want to make sure he can find them if the temps do drop. It is rare, but it has gotten super cold here. My dad remembers when all their chickens froze to death one winter! I’m am glad the kids are compassionate enough to be concerned about the animals getting too cold.

The lamp has been on for a month. Hopefully, we will get a warm spell, soon so I can remove it. Although now I’m not sure I should if a few have bald backs?? Thoughts on that?

Teflon doesn’t come from the poultry heat lamps but the bulbs themself. They have a coating of teflon on them.

How cold is cold?
I have had chickens with bald backs from a rooster in 0F and below 0F weather before.