Molting? Feathers everywhere!!!!

[Happy Chooks]

They will be plenty warm, they snuggle up to the others. I switch feed this time of year and mix Flockraiser (20% protein) with Game Bird Starter (30% protein). The added protein really helps. Plus, they get any meat scraps (not chicken though) and leftover milk.

For those of you new to molting, here is a thread I started to help:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/580915/for-the-new-folks-that-havent-experienced-a-molt-yet/0_50

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I am experiencing the same issue as "just hatched". One of my girls is doing a serious molt, the others less so. I have been attempting additional protein but they are not eating much of any thing. Mostly they just want to roost or stand in the corner of their pen. Of course they are not laying either but I kind of expected that along with a molt (this is our first major molt), egg laying stops. I am worried about the lack of appetite, as they have all always eaten everything and just about any thing they can get their beaks around. I will say they are all plump hens but all that naked skin and the weather has been getting down to freezing the last few nights. Should I be bringing them in where they will be warmer? What can I feed them? They are eating a bit of corn and meal worms but won't touch their pellet feed or any other vegetable scraps. Thanks for advice!

They'll eat if they're hungry. I wouldn't give them any corn until they've had their fill of their feed. They need all the vitamins and minerals in there. Corn just doesn't have much food value except for energy. Too plump can be a bad thing.

They feel bad when they molt.

... Plus, they get any meat scraps (not chicken though) and leftover milk.

...

My chickens like all meat - including chicken.
I also grilled up a raccoon for them this week. Payback's a you know what.

 

[jeanlbean]

I have 3 10 month old EE hens or Americanas. Feathers were everywhere in the pen the other day....the soft downy ones. Then one of the girls lost all of her tail feathers. They are all happy, eating well and laying. They lay the prettiest, large green eggs. Is this molting? No other feathers are coming out. Should I be concerned? Will her tail feathers come back?

 

[Kelsie2290]

I have 3 10 month old EE hens or Americanas. Feathers were everywhere in the pen the other day....the soft downy ones. Then one of the girls lost all of her tail feathers. They are all happy, eating well and laying. They lay the prettiest, large green eggs. Is this molting? No other feathers are coming out. Should I be concerned? Will her tail feathers come back?

It could possibly be a partial molt, especially because of the time of year. Her tail feathers should grow back, but from what you describe I would be concerned about a predator or something or someone pulling the feathers out of your chickens.

 

[jeanlbean]

Kelsie2290, I hadn't thought about a predator. But, her feathers were in an area she lays her eggs in.....underneath their henhouse. I will keep an eye on them. Thank you for your help. I sure hope they grow back because she looks like a quail....so funny!

 

[JanetS]

Here's a picture of our white leghorn who just had her first molt.

 

[jeanlbean]

Janet, how old is she? My hen looks like that but without any body feathers missing.

 

[JanetS]

Janet, how old is she? My hen looks like that but without any body feathers missin

That picture was taken in Sept. when she was 18 months. All her feathers have all grown back in now and she's laying eggs again.

 

[jeanlbean]

That's great! I think my hen at only 10 months is too young to molt.i will post a pic later with her being tailless. She is the hen in my avatar.

 

[joycem]

My chickens have been molting about a month now. As I have been reading, they are 18 months old. This seems to be a slow molt as they have no bare spots but a continuous moderate loss of feathers. They also are not laying eggs. I gave them some plain Greek yogurt a few times and they loved it.
About how long can I expect this to continue?