Comb color changes - photo comparisons

[K0k0shka]

That makes sense.

Some of them seem to be losing some of their feathers in a way that I thought was molting, so I was confused why they didn't seem to slow down very much (they alternate between 6-7 eggs and 10-11 depending on the day, from 12 birds). I also wasn't expecting to get basically an egg per day from them either, though lol. It makes sense that they would likely slow down more later on. I guess I'll have to wait and see. They've definitely slowed down slightly compared to the summer.

When they first started laying also factors in. Did they start laying before or after their first winter? I have a couple the same age as yours, but they were slackers and started laying after their first winter (so this past February). One of them just started molting a few days ago, and the other hasn't started at all yet, and is still laying, large red comb and all. The older ones all molted already and are done with eggs until the spring.

 

[WingsysRoost]

When they first started laying also factors in. Did they start laying before or after their first winter? I have a couple the same age as yours, but they were slackers and started laying after their first winter (so this past February). One of them just started molting a few days ago, and the other hasn't started at all yet, and is still laying, large red comb and all. The older ones all molted already and are done with eggs until the spring.

They've been laying since late winter or early spring. I don't remember when I got the first egg but it was around the 19-21 week mark, maybe March or so?

 

[K0k0shka]

They've been laying since late winter or early spring. I don't remember when I got the first egg but it was around the 19-21 week mark, maybe March or so?

March of this year? Then they may take longer to start molting and slow down or stop the eggs. Where are you located? If you don't have cold winters, then it's no big deal. I worry about my girl because it's been dropping down to the 20s (F) at night over here, and she hasn't even started yet. Hopefully she does a gradual, soft molt, and doesn't drop everything and show skin...

 

[WingsysRoost]

March of this year? Then they may take longer to start molting and slow down or stop the eggs. Where are you located? If you don't have cold winters, then it's no big deal. I worry about my girl because it's been dropping down to the 20s (F) at night over here, and she hasn't even started yet. Hopefully she does a gradual, soft molt, and doesn't drop everything and show skin...

Yes, March of this year. I figured that might be the case. I really hope they don't start molting in the middle of winter or it's at least a gradual one because it does get reasonably cold here, down to around -20C plus wind chill, and there was a lot of bad wind warning days last year too.

I do worry about my one hen who has a bald patch at the base of her tail right now that I've been trying to fix for a while now. I think they're picking on her but I have no idea who - highly considering the idea of a coop camera when I have the extra money. The added benefit to that is that I wouldn't have to walk out there to do final checks for the day in the snow lol.

I hope they're just starting really early with the molt because I'm not sure why else they would be randomly losing feathers if I have (in theory) ruled out most of the potential culprits. This group does seem to have some weird feathers, though, so who knows. I have one bird who has feathers that look constantly ruffled on her lower back, and they've looked that way since her adult feathers grew in.

I hope your girl doesn't have a hard molt. That would not be fun at all in the cold!