i know its natural for the chickens to moult; but one has started and winter just began, should i be worried; these are my first chickens
First off, Welcome to BYC and the insanity. Second, Can you give us a bit more info like do they have a hen house? How cold is cold? How many other chickens do you have? Do they roost together? Do you have ability to run a light out to them? Etc Etc....
I just had a 9 mo old Buff Orp moult at the beginning of Dec. She was looking rough and I was worried since it was in the lower teens some nights and she was roosting alone-- none of the other girls would sleep next to her. So I put the red brooder heat lamp on in the hen house and aimed it at her roosting spot. Now not only does her moult look about over, but several of the other hens are sleeping next to her since her roost is the"warm" one"!
I had a Welsummer start a serious molt during December and is now looking like she could be finishing up. We had a sub zero cold snap during all of this for days morning noon and night. I worried some but thought you have planned the best for them. (right sized coop, and insulation) And indeed she did weather the cold just fine and did go out some days and free ranger with the rest of my ladies. Good luck with yours.
