I've never been so relieved!!

[mcjessen]

Four weeks after she stopped laying for NO apparent reason, my 7 month old BO is showing visible signs of molting. Yep, on Friday, I finally saw new feathers growing poking up through existing feathers on her neck. I had been seeing an increase in dropped feathers in the coop but when I checked her, I didn't see any bare patches or new feather growth. She now has new feather growth.

I had believed she stopped laying because of stress from a neighbors dog getting in the backyard and a possible illness. It could have been a combination of things but at least now, I know she's molting. I feel SOOOO much better.

I've heard molting can last a while. Is the new feather growth the end stage of molting? I assume they stagger their feather loss and regrowth so I'm going to estimate another month and then will expect to see eggs again. Sound reasonable?

 

[Ridgerunner]

You might want to read through these and look at the drawings. I think they might help more than anything I can say.

Mississippi State describes molting
http://msucares.com/poultry/management/poultry_feathers.html

Kansas State feather loss
http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/library/lvstk2/mf2308.pdf

 

[mcjessen]

I found the Mississippi State document more informational than the Kansas State document. Interesting to learn there are two types of molting. That document was very useful in determining an "early molter" vs. "late molter". Seems I may have one of each. Hubby isn't too pleased that both of our Buff Orpingtons (one is since deceased) stopped laying and has indicated that if the remaining bird is not laying by Spring we are getting rid of her. Being an early molter, she'd better pick up the pace.

Have you heard of Buff Orpington's being early molters or did I just get lucky.

LOL!

Thank you so much for that information. It was extremely helpful.