ok my question is this Ihave 12 hens and 1 rooster. It is now around -5 or under most days here.lots of snow which they are afraid of. they do go in it, in their pen to get feed and water. My question is, is it not too cold for them to start molting they are not even a year old yet march and april is when they will be a year. they are not bald but I can see bare spots which are covered by pin feathers. some of then look old around their faces because of the white pin feathers coming in.
Odd, sounds like your girls are doing at least a partial molt for some reason, even though they are young. Has anything besides the cold weather (which can cause it) happened lately that would be a stress to them, especially if they are all doing it? They are eating and drinking fine in their pen? How much space to they have, lighting? The link below has a list of things that can throw birds into a stress molt. http://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/217/moulting-a-natural-process Stress factors and moulting Natural moults can occur any time of the year due to birds being subjected to stress. A bird is stressed when the environment or management present a challenge to which the bird cannot respond without suffering a harmful effect. A hen subjected to a mild stress condition in late spring when in full production will suffer a drop in egg production whereas the same stress condition applied to a bird in the autumn will cause her to cease laying and moult. The following are common stress factors which can induce moulting: Lighting decreasing daylight decreasing artificial light Loss of bodyweight Disease Internal parasites Climate excessive cold heat waves Feed, feeding and feedstuffs deficiencies of essential ingredients irregular feeding insufficient feed Predators eg. cats and dogs Fright - wild birds and children Peck order - low vitality Prolonged broodiness Mismanagement: overcrowding, movement to another house, water deprivation, insufficient feed and water space, faulty ventilation, wet litter, debeaking, vaccinations, exposed housing, etc.
now that I think about it after reading your post weather the snow and that they don't get to go out and wonder around any more (because of the snow). It's not all of them either that are doing this too now that I think about it too. so what can I do ? They all seem fine and they do come out into the pen to eat and drink i don't have the food and water in their house only in the pen. They use to roam around the house but now because it's cold and they are afraid of the snow they stay in the pen. what to do.???
Most chickens are afraid of snow. The best you can do is shovel a path for them, maybe throw some treats out there so maybe they will get out for some exercise. Beautiful chickens you have!
