molting in first year?

[Tracydr]

Quote:
I've read this as well.

Wondering if it possible for a hen from 2010 to NOT moult this fall? I have a production red who hasn't started to moult, and it is November 7th.. It's going to get very cold here soon, and I would rather her not be naked in the full force of winter

I've had some that had such a little molt you would never notice it.

 

[allpeepedout]

At least one of mine, born February, seems to have been molting for a while now. I was not expecting it.

 

[cmom]

From birth as they grow the first year they will go through several molts. Some you may not notice but you will see the feathers around. After the first year then they usually molt once a year.

 

[deanabess]

This is our first year chickening in cold weather. So we are just learning and trying things. We had two 1 year old hens molt for sure and possibly have a molt happening in a 9 month old group of barred rock hens. We thought it was lice and went to GQ over it so all were treated plus coop, nesting boxes, and run. When we treated each hen, only the 5 barred rocks had bald spots and none of the other 12. I did not see lice but my husband said he did see one. We have done everything we read about for the lice and over a week later only the barred rocks are losing feathers and none of the others. The other breeds seem fine so far. Why in the world would God make an animal to molt when it’s so cold? Doesnt seem right to me. I am thinking we humans have once again done something stupid and this is the unintended consequence.