Chickens not molting.

[CuriousChicken]

So heres the scoop, I have 2 indoor chickens. I have had indoor chickens for more than 10 years. My rooster turns 11 in March and his hen turns 2 in May. They are NOT MOLTING, and I have never had this problem. I know light affects when they molt but that has never been a problem for me.

My rooster and my last hen melted at the start of October reliably for 4 or 5 years. No change in diet, no change in light. No change in routine. Last year shortly after we got the new hen they both melted. Right on schedual.

This year nothing, my budgie molted already, so I figured the chickens would be right behind him. Nada! And they are so ratty looking, anything I can do to help encourage them to molt. Any ideas?

 

[JedJackson]

Sometimes they molt all at once, but sometimes they just molt a little at a time, so that you don't even notice it is happening. I don't think you need to worry about it so long as your birds are otherwise happy and healthy.

 

[CuriousChicken]

I'm not super worried just a little concerned, usually mine drop tail feathers first. And like I said they are indoor birds, they live in the house and I handle them multiple times a day. I notice when they start dropping feathers, usually they drop tail and wing feathers first. Then everything else starts popping off.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Isn't "looking ratty" a sign of molting? Mine look ratty when they molt.

 

[Mrs. K]

Really, near the end of the life span at those ages, it takes huge energy and hormones to molt. They are just getting old.

Oh - I reread this, the hen is not that old. I have no idea why she isn't.

 

[CuriousChicken]

Isn't "looking ratty" a sign of molting? Mine look ratty when they molt.

It is but they arent losing the feathers, the feathers are breaking off but not falling out. Someone pointed out that the rooster is old, 10, he may not be molting simply because hes really old. The hen should be molting though.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

It is but they arent losing the feathers, the feathers are breaking off but not falling out. Someone pointed out that the rooster is old, 10, he may not be molting simply because hes really old. The hen should be molting though.

Oh. Well, I don't know then. Either way, i don't imagine there is much you can do about it except continue to care for them the best you can. Chickens do what chickens do.

 

[LMN1966]

Maybe they molt at a different time due to them being indoors? That's why they are ratty looking? Are they being bullied by others?
Just a suggestion.

 

[Chickassan]

Molting ages are suggestions not set in stone, every bird varies.

 

[LMN1966]

Molting ages are suggestions not set in stone, every bird varies.

Right I have hens that don't molt at all.