Hard molt during winter freeze

[Arnolds2638]

Poor girl. I have two who dropped all their feathers just as the temperatures plummeted. Do you have an unheated garage? I worry about big swings in temperature being a bit of a shock so prefer to bring into the garage that stays above freezing but not as warm as the house. Maybe she could have a half-way house in the garage before going back out?

We do have a detached un-heated garage. The hen house may actually stay warmer than the garage, but I could always set her up more of a modified brooder in the garage as a transition. Thanks!

 

[Arnolds2638]

We do have a detached un-heated garage. The hen house may actually stay warmer than the garage, but I could always set her up more of a modified brooder in the garage as a transition. Thanks!

husband tried to measure. Hen house is still only 30 degrees!

 

[AGeese]

I would probably shield whatever side you have open regardless especially if you're any place like where I am, that gets it from all directions.

 

[Arnolds2638]

Just to give an update. She stayed inside for less than a week. She was so much happier out bossing around her sisters. As soon as she had coverage of her skin with tiny feathers, and I confirmed the hen house was 40 degrees even in 20 degree weather, I put her back out. She is now nearly fully feathered again and starting to put back on some weight! Thanks for all of the advice and commiseration!

 

[TooCheep]

Glad to hear it. I had a similar situation with one of my girls and handled it the same. I don't recommend bringing them in as a general rule, but it makes sense in extreme cases.

 

[2 Acres]

My favorite girl decided to a hard molt just as we are receiving unexpected freeze in Southeast (20s-30s F). I have put in supplemental heat to the hen house (standing heated brooder plate as well as hanging ceramic terrarium bulbs from lamp x2). Covered the window. Wrapped entire run in tarp or plastic. I'm not worried about my feathered girls, just the naked one. I had been giving her sunflower seeds and worms, oatmeal, and gave her a can of tuna. I was hoping to let her ride it out, but every time I saw her she was just shivering, and she has lost sooo much weight. Full of just pins but not really any feathers. I caved this morning and brought her inside the house. She ate a ton of feed and is now resting. House is 68 degrees and I didn't give any more than that.

How long do I let her stay in house? How can I get her used to going back outside again when I do? What temp in hen house would be reasonable to have her return? Planning to get thermometer and another plate heater and see what temps look like in there. Other girls choosing to mostly hang out in there throughout day too.

For reference we built the garden coop (run about 8x6 with hen house about 3x6). Hen house fully enclosed outside of small chicken door that leads to run. Only 5 total chickens including the one molting. See pics below. Sorry for the poopy butt of Big Bertha the blue laced red Wyandotte.

I'm going through the same thing with a Dominique hen. She's all tattered and half bare.

 

[Mrs. K]

They are your birds, and of course peace of mind is worth something. But generally speaking, they really are not in danger of dying unless there is another health issue.

Molting is a natural part of a chickens life. If it were life threatening, well chickens would have gone extinct. Extinction is caused by a natural life happening that causes death before being able to reproduce.

In the beginning, I was sure something was wrong, it just SEEMS like they molt in the wrong time of the year. But I found that they did just fine in the coop/run with the other chickens. I find that chickens that molt hard, tend to feather back quickly.

So I don't worry about molting any more. I just let them do it and they are fine, regardless the temperature. This time of year, we are frequently below 20 degrees, in the night. Temperatures do swing wildly as they will be as warm as 70 degrees in the day.

Mrs K