Molting in June

[Hannah_banana]

Hi Community,

One of my chickens started molting in the beginning of June and is looking to be about half through her molt. Looking for some advice to see if this is normal.

For some back story, last year she had a very hard molting season. We use to have ducks and had my all flock on all flock feed. Last year she start two molts that were partial molts. We rehomed our ducks back in May of this year. Because we no longer had ducks I changed their diet to a 17% layer whole seeds feed specially formulated for chickens, no more all flock feed. Name of feed is Healthy Harvest Whole & Hearty 17% Protein Layer Chicken Feed.

I noticed after a month of being on the new feed that my chicken that had a hard molting season last year started molting in the beginning of June. Normally she starts molting in September. Is the early molt due to her being on a the new diet? How bad is all flock feed on chickens? There must of been a nutrient deficiency for her to have two partial molts last year, correct? Is she going through another molt now because she finally is on the appropriate diet?

Even though I've had chickens for 3 years now, I am still very new to this and have a lot to learn. Thank you in advance for any help and advice.

 

[SmiYa0126]

Hello! I have one hen that does a soft molt in the summer! The rest do in the fall, I had one that did a late fall molt.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Different things can cause a molt or mini-molt. The best known one is the days getting shorter in the fall but that is not the only reason or the only time of the year they can molt.

Stress can cause it. Maybe going without water for few days. Adding or removing new flock members so the pecking order is changed. A change of location, moving to a new place. Modifying the coop. A predator attack, real or perceived. A change of chicken feed? Not likely but who knows. A lot of times this affects only one or two chickens, not the entire flock.

An extended laying cycle can cause a molt, especially a mini-molt. Pullets often skip the molt and lay throughout their first fall/winter. After they have laid for 13 to 15 months straight they sometimes take a break to refresh their bodies before getting back to laying.

The days don't have to actually get shorter for them to think they are. Some people extend the lights during winter to keep them laying. If those lights are turned off they may think the days are getting shorter. Or perhaps it is a security light that came on early or went off late that stops working?

I had a hen that went broody and hatched some chicks. She molted in late summer while raising her chicks. She was over the molt and back to laying about the time the others started molting in the fall. That hen continued to lay all winter and until the molt the following fall.

I don't know why your hen is molting now. It could be for many different reasons. I suggest you check her and the others closely for mites and lice, especially roost mites that only come out at night. Sometimes they can make you think a hen is molting. Other than that, as long as she is acting healthy I would not worry about her. You never know what you will get with chickens.

Good luck!

 

[Hannah_banana]

I noticed that since her difficult molt last year, she never returned to laying eggs. I do know that when we had ducks it was a more stressful environment. We had our ducks rehomed in May, so that stressor has been removed. I have a feeling that had something to do with it. I regularly clean our coop and our chickens free roam in our backyard. The only insect we have an issue with is ants but they don't bother the chickens and actually chickens eat the ants sometimes. I'm hoping once she completes her molt that she goes back to laying eggs. Although, if she is done laying eggs that's fine. She makes a great pet. Thank you for your knowledge it helps a lot.

Different things can cause a molt or mini-molt. The best known one is the days getting shorter in the fall but that is not the only reason or the only time of the year they can molt.

Stress can cause it. Maybe going without water for few days. Adding or removing new flock members so the pecking order is changed. A change of location, moving to a new place. Modifying the coop. A predator attack, real or perceived. A change of chicken feed? Not likely but who knows. A lot of times this affects only one or two chickens, not the entire flock.

An extended laying cycle can cause a molt, especially a mini-molt. Pullets often skip the molt and lay throughout their first fall/winter. After they have laid for 13 to 15 months straight they sometimes take a break to refresh their bodies before getting back to laying.

The days don't have to actually get shorter for them to think they are. Some people extend the lights during winter to keep them laying. If those lights are turned off they may think the days are getting shorter. Or perhaps it is a security light that came on early or went off late that stops working?

I had a hen that went broody and hatched some chicks. She molted in late summer while raising her chicks. She was over the molt and back to laying about the time the others started molting in the fall. That hen continued to lay all winter and until the molt the following fall.

I don't know why your hen is molting now. It could be for many different reasons. I suggest you check her and the others closely for mites and lice, especially roost mites that only come out at night. Sometimes they can make you think a hen is molting. Other than that, as long as she is acting healthy I would not worry about her. You never know what you will get with chickens.

Good luck!

 

[Ajoy1955]

Different things can cause a molt or mini-molt. The best known one is the days getting shorter in the fall but that is not the only reason or the only time of the year they can molt.

Stress can cause it. Maybe going without water for few days. Adding or removing new flock members so the pecking order is changed. A change of location, moving to a new place. Modifying the coop. A predator attack, real or perceived. A change of chicken feed? Not likely but who knows. A lot of times this affects only one or two chickens, not the entire flock.

An extended laying cycle can cause a molt, especially a mini-molt. Pullets often skip the molt and lay throughout their first fall/winter. After they have laid for 13 to 15 months straight they sometimes take a break to refresh their bodies before getting back to laying.

The days don't have to actually get shorter for them to think they are. Some people extend the lights during winter to keep them laying. If those lights are turned off they may think the days are getting shorter. Or perhaps it is a security light that came on early or went off late that stops working?

I had a hen that went broody and hatched some chicks. She molted in late summer while raising her chicks. She was over the molt and back to laying about the time the others started molting in the fall. That hen continued to lay all winter and until the molt the following fall.

I don't know why your hen is molting now. It could be for many different reasons. I suggest you check her and the others closely for mites and lice, especially roost mites that only come out at night. Sometimes they can make you think a hen is molting. Other than that, as long as she is acting healthy I would not worry about her. You never know what you will get with chickens.

Good luck!

Can roost mites be seen in their bum and vent areas?

 

[Ridgerunner]

Yes, but only when it is dark. They hide in cracks and dark places during the day or if you turn the lights on. Pick one off of the roost using a flashlight to see so you can pick it up then check the vent area fairly quickly. You may see them running away from the light.