Hard molt when it is dipping into the low 20s at night

[szczur]

One of my dominiques is in the middle of a rough molt right now. Her sister is starting too. She has only little pinfeather nubs all down her butt and belly and has large naked patches. She was shivering a little today but is still active. Will she be ok with no feathers at night or should I bring her in? I live in PA and the temps are going down to the low 20s at night.

Thanks

 

[bobbi-j]

I would not bring them in. Make sure they are in a draft free, well ventilated coop so they can stay dry - that will help keep them warm. I would think they'd roost together and share body heat at night.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I'm with that. You'd be surprised how they can cope. I've had Jaerhons molt in mid January.

Up the protein with animal sources to help build the feathers faster.

 

[azygous]

Yes, leave her in the coop. She will sandwich herself between others for warmth. Being exposed to the cold, as opposed to bringing her in, will encourage her feathers to grow in. Bringing her inside, may retard the regrowth.

She will eat more and that produces more body heat. I like to offer my flock canned mackerel a couple times a week during molt. They love it, and the additional protein sure can't hurt.

 

[Folly's place]

One of my Wyandotte hens is doing the same thing right now; looks awful, but will be fine. Nice coop, lotsa Flock Raiser to eat, growing feathers as fast as possible. Mary

 

[aart]

I've got one just started a hard molt a couple days ago, feathers everywhere and a tiny, pincushion chicken.
It's funny how small they are under all those feathers...even tho I know, it always gives me a head shaking pause.
She was shivering a bit yesterday, but I assume she'll be fine.....she certainly is not coming inside.
My hard molters usually roost alone, don't think they like being touched by anything with all those pin feathers sticking out.
Not quite that cold here yet, but I've had bare backed birds make thru the winter just fine in the past.
Definitely make sure they have ample protein to grow those feathers faster.

 

[donrae]

Poor molting girl--she was already growing feathers back here. But you can see ice in the tub behind her, and this was early afternoon.......she did just fine and was back to her sleek self.....

 

[shortgrass]

Lol @donrae, she looks just like one of my EEs right now


I had a Buttercup go through a really hard molt last year right about this time. She and her sister slept in the trees all the time and she was up there half naked through one if our worst blizzards of the year. She literally FELL out of the tree the next morning, almost encased in ice!

She was fine after a few hours in the sun but never went back to sleeping in the trees lol... I felt so bad for her but they're a lot tougher than we think

(I would not recommend doing that; I had no choice but leave her up there and was shocked she survived that storm)