Molting Age?

[mjdtexan]

At what age do chickens start to molt? Do they quit laying eggs right before they molt. My 17 hens are 14 months old.

 

[gritsar]

Mjd, while 14 months seems a little early I wouldn't discount it given the weird weather. 18 months is usually the time for the start of the big molt.
I noticed less eggs for about a week and a half before I saw signs of the birds molting.

 

[mjdtexan]

Thank You.

 

[chickenbottom]

my girls jsut finished their molt of the year they will be a year old on january 13th

 

[SunnyDawn]

Thank you, I was curious about this also.

 

[feathersnuggles]

It CAN be really early too. I have an 8 month old pullet who began a molt 6 weeks ago. She stopped laying and is dropping feathers very very slowly. She was an early layer - at just 19 weeks. I posted, when she started molting, b/c she was so young and it seemed very odd to me. But apparently some pullets can have a mini-molt, too, I was told.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Yes, some of mine had a mini-moult too. I thought they looked horrible, then they went thru the full blown 18 month molt and I found out how bad a chicken can look.

 

[mjdtexan]

So, is this a winter activity or just whenever they get around to it? Also, how long will it last? Thank Yall so much for the help

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
It seems to happen this time of year for whatever reason, I guess Mother Nature knows what she's doing. It can last a few weeks or a few months. I had some quick molters and others that stayed bare forever, it seemed like.
Feed high protein snacks - cheese, eggs, black oil sunflower seed, some dry cat food, yogurt. Growing feathers requires alot of protein.

 

[mjdtexan]

Quote:
It seems to happen this time of year for whatever reason, I guess Mother Nature knows what she's doing. It can last a few weeks or a few months. I had some quick molters and others that stayed bare forever, it seemed like.
Feed high protein snacks - cheese, eggs, black oil sunflower seed, some dry cat food, yogurt. Growing feathers requires alot of protein.

Thanks Again Miz Mule