Arizona Chickens

[DesertChic]

It's been a really hard molting year for me this year. Most of my girls, especially the older ones, have regrown their feathers and a few are now starting to lay again, but I also have at least a half a dozen girls that just started molting. My longest molters began all the way back in October and STILL haven't started laying again...and they're not even my oldest hens. My four oldest hens spent a month molting and have already resume laying, each giving me 2-5 jumbo eggs per week. I'm definitely reconsidering some of my breeders and culls now.

 

[Diannastarr]

So anyone who has molting chickens how are they doing? I have 3 girls laying again, 2 who should be laying, I'm afraid they won't ever lay again although they're only 11/2 yrs.

They are also pretty picky and spoiled now so as soon as my last girl finishes regrowing feathers I will cut down on treats and make them only eat feed again lol

i push the proteen with 24% chick grower feed & mana pro show bird conditioner, for theses days when my flock was molting & suddenly it got down to 20 degreese for 6 nights, very shocking for Bisbee AZ ,but now the weather has returned to normal 45 to 60 at night and 85 degree days, plus the molt is over...!!! they never stop laying just reduce a bit the amount of eggs , but i feed the very best to keep my 75 birds well supported ..! i have to say my show quality hupp Australorps , if they even ever molted in the 4 years ive had them , i could never tell, they always look perfect with not one feather out of place...!and thats the way the best quality well bred Australorps should be, plus laying tons of large to X-large eggs & in a constant state of perfection...!!...! lets hear it for the amazing australorps...! of any color...!!!

 

[Diannastarr]

It's been a really hard molting year for me this year. Most of my girls, especially the older ones, have regrown their feathers and a few are now starting to lay again, but I also have at least a half a dozen girls that just started molting. My longest molters began all the way back in October and STILL haven't started laying again...and they're not even my oldest hens. My four oldest hens spent a month molting and have already resume laying, each giving me 2-5 jumbo eggs per week. I'm definitely reconsidering some of my breeders and culls now.

hi DesertChic,
if you have some nice NN girls you would part with and a nice sweet NN roo, let me know i am interested...! & i always love the jumbo eggs...!!

 

[BlueBaby]

Both of mine that are still molting are blue Australorps. My oldest hen Zhanne. My rooster seem's to be loosing the most feathers from it and he was hatched out New Years Day of this year. The other girls are all younger than he is and have their feathers. Some of those haven't even laid the first egg yet.

 

[Diannastarr]

Both of mine that are still molting are blue Australorps. My oldest hen Zhanne. My rooster seem's to be loosing the most feathers from it and he was hatched out New Years Day of this year. The other girls are all younger than he is and have their feathers. Some of those haven't even laid the first egg yet.

hmmm my hupp Aussies are the only ones that never seem to ever molt , not even one feather year After year among all my 75 birds of different breeds , my Aussies have such dense feathering they look like the pics of the SOP birds in shows , so un like all the other breeds , they have a lot more feathers.

 

[BlueBaby]

hmmm my hupp Aussies are the only ones that never seem to ever molt , not even one feather year After year among all my 75 birds of different breeds , my Aussies have such dense feathering they look like the pics of the SOP birds in shows , so un like all the other breeds , they have a lot more feathers.

Well, my Blue Australorp rooster is currently in a pen by himself, and there are many of his older blue feathers all over in it. One of the NN hens had pulled out his neck feathers when he was still in there with the hens, so those are starting to grow back now that he has been by himself.

 

[Diannastarr]

my beautiful blue Aussie hen ,she never seems to molt..? maybe she is a sneaky molter..??? ...lol.. she is always an Aussie picture perfection, with never a feather out of place ..!!!

 

[Diannastarr]

Well, my Blue Australorp rooster is currently in a pen by himself, and there are many of his older blue feathers all over in it. One of the NN hens had pulled out his neck feathers when he was still in there with the hens, so those are starting to grow back now that he has been by himself.

yeah the hens do that feather pulling thing.

 

[BlueBaby]

my beautiful blue Aussie hen ,she never seems to molt..? maybe she is a sneaky molter..??? ...lol.. she is always an Aussie picture perfection, with never a feather out of place ..!!! View attachment 1222629

Could it have been from all of that cat food that you have been feeding her?

 

[SonoranChick]

i push the proteen with 24% chick grower feed & mana pro show bird conditioner, for theses days when my flock was molting & suddenly it got down to 20 degreese for 6 nights, very shocking for Bisbee AZ ,but now the weather has returned to normal 45 to 60 at night and 85 degree days, plus the molt is over...!!! they never stop laying just reduce a bit the amount of eggs , but i feed the very best to keep my 75 birds well supported ..! i have to say my show quality hupp Australorps , if they even ever molted in the 5 years ive had them , i could never tell, they always look perfect not one feather out of place...!and thats the way the best quality well bred Australorps should be laying tons of large to X-large eggs & in a constant state of perfection...!!...! lets hear it for the amazing australorps...! of any color...!!!

Whoooo go australorpes!!!! Lol I will cheer lead for that breed any day. My girl is so smart and ready to start laying any day now.