Molting in February?

[TheOrganicSister]

Granted it's a very warm February. We're in Las Vegas and our winter has been yo-yoing. This past week has steadily climbed to about 70 degrees.

Our hens are about a year old. We got them at about 5 months and they did not have a molt in the fall. I noticed some butt feathers missing from one of them; checked for mites or irritation and found neither so I figured boredom (there were a cpl weeks there when they didn't have full run of the yard, especially with the rain we had). Just today I noticed a slightly "shaggy" look about them - nothing major, just not sleek as usual. I don't have pics but can get them.

I just haven't heard of a molt at one yr old and in spring. Want to make sure that's what is going on? Any ideas?

 

[Happy Chooks]

Mine molted at 9 months old in November.

So I think they can molt at any time.

 

[azygous]

Yup! If you see lots of feathers everywhere, like a feather pillow sprang a leak, it's probably molt.

I have nine hens, and at least three of them are molting right now. It's not the climate. It's been the coldest winter in my 15 years living here in the Rockies, the nights haven't been above the teens all winter, and the days hover at slightly above freezing.

One of my nine month old SLW pullets is practically bald on her back just in front of her tail, and two of my two year old Brahmas are molting their fuzzy butt feathers, like a blizzard! The Brahmas are chilly at night and insist on sleeping in the nest boxes to keep warm.

Don't ask me why they're molting now. Because they can?

You can hurry up the molt by increasing their protein intake. Give them a little tuna fish every so often.

 

[augustmomx2]

I have 2 moulting right now, one of my GSL and a BA. The BA has lost A LOT of her feathers, her bottom, chest and legs are almost bare

Brrrrr, it been cold and snowy here. I have yet to see a feather, cuz my girls have always been feather eaters

Glad to hear my girls aren't the only "odd" ones

 

[Love Eggs]

I am also having molting issues, perhaps. I haven't written before, but I have 5 hens, 10 months old. One has stopped laying, and has been slowly losing feathers, now has bare spots on her neck of bottom. I thought she was being "hen-pecked" so have had her separated for a week, and there were feathers everywhere, so I'm thinking she's molting. Her poop is a little watery, her comb pale, and she's skinny. She's eating and drinking. I tried putting her back in the flock yesterday, and they immediately started pecking and eating her few remaining feathers. I have her separated again, but don't quite know what to do. Any advice? I live up in the mountains outside Reno, Nevada, we get quite a bit of snow and cold weather, so she's in the garage in a dog crate while I figure out what to do.
Thanks for any help.

Love Eggs.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote:
Put the dog crate in the coop so they get used to her again.

Yes, it does sound like she's molting. Her comb may also get shriveled looking. (my buttercup did)