Molting in Winter - Can we change it?

[fasbendera]

I have one hen an EE from McMurray that is now four years old. She was hatched at the end of May (Memorial Day) along with our White Rock but she molts in the winter. I feel so back because we are in a very cold climate and even with the insulated coop and a heat lamp the water freezes but no frozen combs. Is there any way to get her to molt earlier? She will be with us until she dies of old age since she is one of our first her name is Belle and we love her. She has been doing this for four years but seeing her the other day I felt so bad for her I just wanted to see if there was something I could do.

 

[Imp]

This link talks about using light to reduce molting. Good luck

Imp- I have lights in the winter and have never had a hard molt.


http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/library/lvstk2/mf2308.pdf

 

[fasbendera]

Quote:
Thanks. I do have a light all winter I have one or two heat lamps going but maybe I need to start with just lighting before it gets cold and I need the heat lamps.

 

[Imp]

It might be just your location. I'm in Seattle, so not much of a winter usually. Also could be breed related. My EE I don't think has ever molted in the last 1 3/4 years. Her feathers always look good so I assume she slowly loses and replaces feathers.

Imp

 

[chookchick]

Here's something to think about for next year-- You might be able to induce her to molt earlier in the fall by playing with the lights also (big producers sometimes induce molts). Next year my plan is to begin adding light in October, then drop it completely in November in order to induce a molt, then start again in January with the lights if they are not starting back up on their own. I'm not going to starve them like the producers do, though. Just a theory at this point, but it should be interesting.

ETA--Imps article mentions this also. Has anyone else done this?