Is Molting worse this year?

[Iluveggers]

I have a range of hens ages 8 weeks to 4 years. This year, the molt is BAD. I have about 7 hens who seemed to have lost half their feathers overnight. I have had 1 or 2 look like this in the past, but never this many at the same time.

A few look to have molted and grown back feathers already (earlier molt). But my almost-baldies took me by surprise.

Anyone else going through this? Does this happen in cycles? Doesn’t seem to be an age or breed thing…one of my barred rocks went through a quick easy molt and the other is a baldie, same chick batch.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I have noticed more hens doing hard molts. They also started later this year, so perhaps that has something to do with it.

 

[FunnyBunny89]

I also have more hens doing hard molts this year. Makes me wonder if winter is gonna be longer!

 

[The Moonshiner]

I have a range of hens ages 8 weeks to 4 years. This year, the molt is BAD. I have about 7 hens who seemed to have lost half their feathers overnight. I have had 1 or 2 look like this in the past, but never this many at the same time.

A few look to have molted and grown back feathers already (earlier molt). But my almost-baldies took me by surprise.

Anyone else going through this? Does this happen in cycles? Doesn’t seem to be an age or breed thing…one of my barred rocks went through a quick easy molt and the other is a baldie, same chick batch.

Have you entered any in the... Best (Worst) Chicken Molt Contest?

 

[Iluveggers]

Have you entered any in the... Best (Worst) Chicken Molt Contest?

I should! Have to get out in good lighting…the weather has been high winds and rain! (Poor chickens…they still venture out of their protected run and come back drenched)!

 

[PrettyBirdRocky]

We noticed it too here. We have 24 hens and have about 6 in a super hard molt (more naked then normal) and several others molting as well-the pen looks like a keeled a few birds lol) Ages 1-3, different breeds. And earlier than last year too. I know our weather in Indiana here has been funky but could be one of those old wives tales of harder winter? Not sure lol

 

[BuddingGardener]

Three of my six have had a very hard molt this year. Two molted earlier. One has yet to molt.

 

[Artchickenlover21]

Both my hens have had a very good, healthy, timely molt this year. But my brahma went through it HARD lol. White feathers everywhere she went! It was like a trail of breadcrumbs, you could see everywhere she had been cause she had snowed there. Usually their molt lingers for a while so it's nice the one this year happened so efficiently.

 

[Mrs. K]

I prefer a hard molt. They do look terrible, but they seem to re-feather more quickly.

 

[Sally PB]

I've had the opposite happen here. Molts have been gradual and nobody looks like a porcupine this year.

Unless that is still to come...