Chick moults

[Time-Out]

I have read that some birds don't 'wear' their full colour until their third moult. I know adult chickens moult on average once a year, but how about chicks? Do they moult a couple of times before they are adults? Or is it once a year again. I'm just wondering when I'll be able to know if my birds' colour is good or below par.

 

[djennings]

I don't believe chicks moult

 

[madamwlf]

Chicks do 1 full molt and then 3 partial molts before they grow in their adult feathers.

 

[Time-Out]

Over what sort of time period?

 

[debid]

I'm still seeing chick moulting with some of my 19-weekers but the 20-weekers all appear to be done. As I understand it, they are finished or nearly finished when they start to lay and then will lay for a period of time ranging from a few months to well past a year before taking a break for their first major adult moult.

 

[RollinWithTheStones]

When do chicks get their first set of feathers? Mine have wing feathers but their bodies are still fluffy (5 weeks today). I also noticed their necks are looking a bit rough.

 

[Time-Out]

I think that depends on the temps the birds are kept at. Mine will be 5 weeks Monday. They're almost fully feathered on the outside, but still have some fluff under their wings and a few bits on their necks. The only heat they get is when I decide I'm chilly and turn the thermostat up on the heating.

For the Vorwerk, when they say they reach their full colour by their third moult, I'm guess that will be years then. I can't imagine it being the little moults chicks go through.

 

[RollinWithTheStones]

Ours are kept outside, temp is 80ish during the day and 67-70 at night.

 

[LovinChicknFarmn]

Our first set feathered out as tiny chicks and that was the first big change. Then they kind of finished out feathering, so they changed a bit over a month or so time period. Finally they had a mini molt around three months or so and after that they were their "adult" coloring. I haven't seen any real changes since that molt of sorts.