Molting - How long does this take?

[Vickery]

Hey Chickchic,
From what I have read (and I have read quite a lot since getting chickens!), a stressful event will affect chickens. That, and the fact that it is autumn and they DO molt most frequently at this time of year. Molting does have an affect on egg production so...it could be all or both situations effecting your girls! Just hang in there with them. Hopefully they will get over it in a month or two. And, in the meantime, give them lots of protein to help with feather regrowth. Good Luck, Vickery

 

[222danette]

I don't know what attacked them, but it killed three, and just left them lay in the grass with no marks on them that I could see. I suspect a dog since they weren't eaten. A long time ago, I had a small flock of Bantams that were attacked by a hawk. I happened to be at the kitchen window to witness it. The flock escaped into the underbrush and the hawk only got a fistful of feathers, but for days afterwards, whenever they saw a shadow pass over from the sky, they would flee to safety! They didn't stop laying, though......

 

[Vickery]

I'm sticking with the molt theory...I've got big issues this year (18 month olds and first real molt). Can't figure it's anything else. Good Luck.

 

[onetbcamiller]

The same here!!! But as far as the reason my aunt who has raised chickens for as long as I can remember says that " Chickens will virtually stop producing egg's; because the molting processes which allows them to shed their old feathers, is hard on their system and is very stressful for the chicken. So, if they keep laying while they are molting it causes even more stress on them and could potentially cause the chicken to become sick." I am not sure if this is true but my Aunt has never stirred me wrong yet!!!!

 

[onetbcamiller]

It could have been a number of things, I used to live up in Silver Springs and saw several packs of wild dogs come around where I lived. At the mobile home park. Wild dogs will go after anything but they won't always eat what they kill whereas wolves or coyotes will normally eat what they kill. I now have chickens and I have seen hawks as well as falcons which will attack chickens and yes it can stress them out enough to send them into molting like symptoms, I even had a neighbors dog dig under my fence and killed three of my girls. from that time on I lock the hen house every night and it has taken about 4 to 6 months for them to feel secure enough to venture out any further than the garden area.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Has anyone ever heard of a traumatic event throwing hens into a molt? My little flock was attacked by something in August, their egg production dwindled down to zero, the 4 remaining hens went into a molt and their behavior is different. They mope around and are very quiet. They won't leave the coop anymore unless it is bright and sunny out. I thought they were missing their rooster, so I got another one, but they ignore each other like middle school kids at a dance. They get all the layer feed with a sprinkling of cracked corn that they want. They also have daily access to whatever scraps are on the compost pile, and used to love to scratch in the garden. Is there any hope for them? I'm going to have to buy eggs for the first time in years!

Yes, severe stress can force them into a molt. It's what the commercial industry does. (by withholding food)

 

[222danette]

Why would commercial industry want to cause chickens to molt? What is the purpose?

 

[222danette]

Well, I followed everyone's good advice, increased their protein and practiced patience, and they are starting to lay again. Their feathers are full, they seem to have no objections to the new rooster, so hopefully we are getting back to normal!

Now. Next question: What age do chickens typically stop laying?

 

[darrylv50]

I had 8 girls until a month ago. I went out to close them up for the night and found them all very upset clucking and running around and some were on top of the coop. When I looked inside the coop, there were 2 opossums inside the coop eating one of my girls. I have been having a problem with them going into the coop off an on in the evening. We did kill one of them and have been setting a live trap now since the incident. We have caught 7 opossums since then.
After this happened I literally have
had to pick the girls up and put them in the coop for about a week. Then they calmed down and went in themselves. They did all go into a molt right after the incident and I haven't had an egg since. I don't know if this is just coincidence since it is time for them to molt or if it is traumatically induced.
I never knew that opossums would kill chickens, I just thought they liked the eggs and the chicken feed. I have learned the hard way I am sorry to say.

 

[Vickery]

Darrylv50,
This is a sad story to be sure. I can relate to the traumatization part of it as one of my girls was killed by a dog. The rest of my hens were able to flee and escape however it took a good couple of weeks (or more) to coax them out of their run and have them act normal (happily free ranging) again. Give 'em time. I have found that once they get into a habit, you just have to patiently retrain them (for just about everything) so I'd just keep putting them in, making them feel secure...they'll come around I think. I usually think (and have read) that molting takes place in the fall into early winter. How old are they? First year they have a "juvenile molt", then the following a harder one where laying may be severely diminished (which will also happen when it's very cold and reduced day light of winter). Hope this helps. Vickery.