*Buff Orpington Thread!*

[TheSpiceGirls]

Is it normal for lots of feathers to be lying around in the coop right here close to winter?, for the past week or two my buffs have been losing lots of feathers. I cant tell if they're molting or getting pulled out by other chickens, I'm pretty sure they're molting, but just wanted to make sure

It is molting season. They HATE to be held when molting. But if you can gently pick one up and sort of part the feathers on the back of their neck, if you see a bunch of pin feathers coming in, then they are likely molting.

 

[ampho]

I have the same thing, one buff and one of my barred rocks! It coincidentally started after my two week vacation in which my kids didn't really pamper them the way I do, laying is down to near nothing and I guess this is the beginning of the molting...they just turned a year old!

 

[Brookshire11]

Well, hello Ava. Aren't you a smart little girl? That is too funny that she chased off your cat. Your cat will have a hard time explaining that at the Cat Union meeting.

My cat has no problem dealing with snakes..but she does not mess around with the girls at all! Lol.

Pretty girl )

Thank you!

I love her crocked comb.

I know, she has a little wave going on lol

 

[ShadyGroveFarm1]

Oh I did just realize something. Egg laying does slow down considerably during molts don't they?, cause I am getting no eggs right now

 

[speckledhen]

Oh I did just realize something. Egg laying does slow down considerably during molts don't they?, cause I am getting no eggs right now

Yes. Sometimes it just stops entirely. And how long you'll go without from a certain hen is according to if your hen is a slow or fast molter. I found that egg laying cessations during molts are longer, the older a hen becomes. She takes longer breaks, which does make sense. Not a spring chicken anymore!

The first BIG molt usually takes place after 16 months of age, mostly between 18-20 months old. Before that, are juvenile molts.

 

[ShadyGroveFarm1]

Yes. Sometimes it just stops entirely. And how long you'll go without from a certain hen is according to if your hen is a slow or fast molter. I found that egg laying cessations during molts are longer, the older a hen becomes. She takes longer breaks, which does make sense. Not a spring chicken anymore!

The first BIG molt usually takes place after 16 months of age, mostly between 18-20 months old. Before that, are juvenile molts.

They are 2-3 years old I think. Do you think they'll start to lay again?

 

[speckledhen]

They are 2-3 years old I think. Do you think they'll start to lay again?

Since they are living creatures and influenced by all sorts of things, it's impossible to say. My fast molters would only stop for 2-3 weeks during the hardest part of the molt, then start up again. Others would stop for a month to six weeks. Later on, as they got past 4-5 years old, they might stop for 2-3 months. After that, they stop regardless of molt, for longer and longer periods of time.

 

[Johnn]

Bella's mother

Coco (Bella's mothers daughter)

 

[CarolinaHen]

Since they are living creatures and influenced by all sorts of things, it's impossible to say. My fast molters would only stop for 2-3 weeks during the hardest part of the molt, then start up again. Others would stop for a month to six weeks. Later on, as they got past 4-5 years old, they might stop for 2-3 months. After that, they stop regardless of molt, for longer and longer periods of time.

One of our girls starts molting in August usually and doesn't start laying again until spring. :/ She is a great broody though

 

[sssharon]

Barred Buff, what age were your orpingtons when they started laying? I have been waiting for a long time and nothing. I was told my buff was 5 months old when I got her which was on July 29th. That's would put her at 30 weeks. She has been going in the nests once and awhile and she has been more vocal. She's normally pretty quiet but has been pretty loud the last couple days. I think she may be getting ready to lay. I hope so.