Hen Never Molted

[Brahma Chicken5000]

I have 2 hens who never molted this fall/winter and laid straight through days that had about 8 hours of sunlight. Both have the same Silkie father, it one has an Easter Egger mother and the other has a Red Sex Link mother. They both laid pretty consistently through the fall and the Silkie x Red Sex Link hen is still laying. The Silkie x Easter Egger stopped laying eggs I believe maybe 3 weeks ago, but has shown no sign of molting. Both of the hens have worn feathers and are missing feathers on their abdomens. There was the occasional soft shelled or brittle shelled egg from the Silkie x Red Sex Link, but that was fixed by adding more oyster shell to the feed. I feed Purina Flock Raiser Crumbles as I have a flock of mixed ages and some hens who are seasonal layers. While I was pleasantly surprised to have eggs to eat throughout the winter since I don’t eat store bought eggs, I am worried about the health and well being of my hens.

 

[MountainWoman73]

They're okay. They'll molt when they feel like it. Pretty birds!

 

[Mvan42]

How old are they. Mine were a year and a half before they molted. Some still haven’t molted.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

How old are they. Mine were a year and a half before they molted. Some still haven’t molted.

They’re a little over a year and a half old.

 

[Mvan42]

They’re a little over a year and a half old.

Am sure before you know it you will have molting chickens... it will happen eventually..

 

[Shadrach]

Moulting and egg laying are not mutually dependent.
First time layers (pullets) often lay through their first winter and some, depending on when they hatched may lay through two winters.
Your hens have moulted. They moult I think it's three times as they reach adulthood but only the first moult is obvious and that's when they lose their fuzz.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Moulting and egg laying are not mutually dependent.
First time layers (pullets) often lay through their first winter and some, depending on when they hatched may lay through two winters.
Your hens have moulted. They moult I think it's three times as they reach adulthood but only the first moult is obvious and that's when they lose their fuzz.

These birds were hatched in the summer of 2018 so they have already experienced a winter and started laying in December of the same year. As of this fall both birds have not molted their current adult plumage.

 

[Shadrach]

These birds were hatched in the summer of 2018 so they have already experienced a winter and started laying in December of the same year. As of this fall both birds have not molted their current adult plumage.

Why exactly are you concerned?
I know of no illness that prevents moulting.
If they started laying December 2018 then it's quite possible to miss the next years moult and moult the year after.
If they are healthy and you got eggs over the winter I would say you've had a result.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Why exactly are you concerned?
I know of no illness that prevents moulting.
If they started laying December 2018 then it's quite possible to miss the next years moult and moult the year after.
If they are healthy and you got eggs over the winter I would say you've had a result.

I’m worried because chickens that lay eggs on a consistent basis (year+) without taking a break to molt their feathers they molt which allows the body to take a break from egg production and restore the calcium that the body pulls from the medullary bones to make eggshells.

 

[Shadrach]

I’m worried because chickens that lay eggs on a consistent basis (year+) without taking a break to molt their feathers they molt which allows the body to take a break from egg production and restore the calcium that the body pulls from the medullary bones to make eggshells.

Moulting and egg laying are not dependent on each other. Hens have partial moults in the summer.