Molting in negative temps!

[ahwhite]

Hello! Looking for some advice. My hens are still molting, and it is getting to be in the negatives here in Wyoming. They all seem so miserable. Some have more feathers than others. Today I noticed a couple were hanging in the coop looking pretty distressed, and they had some spots of frozen feathers. I encouraged them outside because it's at least sunny out there! Gave them some warm grains and milk, and some meal worms.

Should we stick a heating lamp in the coop while they grow their feathers back? I get so nervous doing that, I watched someone else's coop go up in flames, though they had a full blown heater. I suppose we could put it in there just for a bit before we go to bed and hope the coop reatains some heat? I also worry about them becoming acclimated to the cold, and wonder if adding heat helps in the long run.... Last year we didn't for this reason but this is their first adult Molt and it seems so late? So maybe just until they get their feathers back.... Any advice is appreciated!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Poor girls.

Personally I would not add a heating lamp. Fire is always a big concern and like you I would worry about acclimation. Also if you had a sudden loss of power, it would be very hard on them.

I'm sure others will chime in, but some things you can do is to make sure there are no drafts in the coop (you do need ventilation). Add a thick layer of bedding or a generous amount of hay for them to snuggle into. Last winter I had some that were naked in -F weather, they stayed inside most of the time - I made sure that they were eating/drinking, even if I had to take food inside and hand feed them. My molters love hard boiled egg and fresh greens as a treat - extra protein, imho, is essential for molting chickens. Once/twice a week, I also added some Nutri-Drench to the eggs for a boost.

If your run is very open, consider adding some type of wind block. A tarp, a couple of bales of hay, etc. Something they can get behind will encourage them to go outside. A lot depends on your set-up, so if you have photos you want to share that would be good.

 

[ahwhite]

Poor girls.

Personally I would not add a heating lamp. Fire is always a big concern and like you I would worry about acclimation. Also if you had a sudden loss of power, it would be very hard on them.

I'm sure others will chime in, but some things you can do is to make sure there are no drafts in the coop (you do need ventilation). Add a thick layer of bedding or a generous amount of hay for them to snuggle into. Last winter I had some that were naked in -F weather, they stayed inside most of the time - I made sure that they were eating/drinking, even if I had to take food inside and hand feed them. My molters love hard boiled egg and fresh greens as a treat - extra protein, imho, is essential for molting chickens. Once/twice a week, I also added some Nutri-Drench to the eggs for a boost.

If your run is very open, consider adding some type of wind block. A tarp, a couple of bales of hay, etc. Something they can get behind will encourage them to go outside. A lot depends on your set-up, so if you have photos you want to share that would be good.

Thanks for your reply. Yeah that's kind of what I figured, they will have to tough it out, with a little help, and hopefully their new feathers will finish growing in soon. It isn't supposed to be as cold this next week so that will help.

I'm too lazy to go take pictures right now but I think they are ok wind wise, it isn't really windy and our coop is raised, so they spend time in the dirt under the coop which seems to be pretty protected. We will put some extra fresh shavings in today and maybe cover the coop with a tarp tonight just in case there are any drafts. Last year they impressed me by surviving -30 temps so I guess they will probably get through!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I have a few still molting here in Wisconsin. They look cold but are fine. Keep up the protein content of their feed to hasten things along. I wouldn't provide extra heat as they will become dependent on it. The cold should encourage quicker feather growth too.

 

[song of joy]

My molters love hard boiled egg and fresh greens as a treat - extra protein, imho, is essential for molting chickens.

X 2. It really seems to help them feather in more quickly when I increase their protein intake, as feathers are primarily made of protein. When I have hens that are molting in really cold temps, I give them mashed scrambled eggs 2 or 3 times per week (approx. 1/2 scrambled egg per hen each time).

 

[aart]

maybe cover the coop with a tarp tonight just in case there are any drafts.

Just don't cover up the ventilation.

 

[relizabethcole]

This was my question also! I have one hen who is molting - not the hardest molt I've seen, but def not feathered up like my others - and it's in the teens during the day and negative some nights. We put her in a cage in the garage during the night, but I'm worried that this will mess up her feather re-growth, giving her mixed temperature signals. They do fine in their coop even during really cold times, but that's with all their feathers. What do you guys think?

 

[aart]

What do you guys think?

I'd leave her with the flock...I have a couple still losing feathers.
I do the 'treat test' if I think a bird is really suffering from extreme temps, hot or cold, toss out some scratch grains and if they don't move for them then I know they are in trouble.

 

[ahwhite]

Just don't cover up the ventilation.

Good point.

 

[dfalchek]

Ditto on the protein push. The industry took quality protein out of chicken feed during the "mad cow" crisis. Give you chickens some cat or dog food -- not too much because it is high in salt -- or meat scraps or eggs. Also, consider mixing high-protein game bird feed in with their ration. Their bodies will quickly turn that protein into fine feathers.