MOLTING ?

[City Farmer Jim]

I'm a newbie so when can we expect our soon to be hens(year old) start to molt...this is our second flock and first flock to make it this far(long story) and wondering when and what to expect...

 

[CurlyQuail]

At a year old your girls are already hens. They have their first molt between 16 and 18 months old

 

[Sammy1122]

Anywhere in late summer and early fall they may begin to molt.

 

[City Farmer Jim]

At a year old your girls are already hens. They have their first molt between 16 and 18 months old

They turn 1 the 10th of September. I hope they are late molters...it can be rather cool in south Texas in January and February...

 

[aart]

Hmmm...will be interesting to see if and when they molt.
Hope, you keep this thread updated with any progress.

 

[City Farmer Jim]

Hmmm...will be interesting to see if and when they molt.
Hope, you keep this thread updated with any progress.

Will do...from the article posted here it's looking like spring ish for them...January or February

 

[Mrs. K]

oh really - interesting. You will go out one day everything looks fine, but maybe a little old, then they look like they are dying, feathers falling off, sticking out at weird angles, feathers EVERYWHERE, and naked patches....then they look beautiful, like they have gone to the beauty parlor, shinny, neat and tidy.

Do not worry too much about them being nearly naked and cold, does not seem to really phase them. But they do get a bit crabby.

Mrs K

 

[CamTheChknKeeper]

oh really - interesting. You will go out one day everything looks fine, but maybe a little old, then they look like they are dying, feathers falling off, sticking out at weird angles, feathers EVERYWHERE, and naked patches....then they look beautiful, like they have gone to the beauty parlor, shinny, neat and tidy.

Do not worry too much about them being nearly naked and cold, does not seem to really phase them. But they do get a bit crabby.

Mrs K

Thank you!! I was getting a little bit worried this year, only my second experience with my two Roos molting and Boy!! do they look Rough this time. Also our weather is finally breaking from sticky-hot to almost-chilly-enough for turning on our heat in the house. I’ve added some corn in the chilly mornings and it is Gone every time. I fed them some Feather Fixer feed recently, but I’ve run out and now I cannot find it again. I tried reading the label for supplements info but wow, it’s confusing and I don’t want to mess that up, I think I’ll try getting the Feather Fixer from an online source.

 

[aart]

I’ve added some corn in the chilly mornings and it is Gone every time.

Low protein....kinda like candy.

I fed them some Feather Fixer feed recently, but I’ve run out and now I cannot find it again.

Feather Fixer Feed doesn't actually 'fix' feathers, it's just a bit higher in protein than most layer feeds(18 vs 16%) but still has layer level calcium(3-4%).

I tried reading the label for supplements info but wow, it’s confusing and I don’t want to mess that up,

Read the tag sewn into bottom of bag, most important are the protein and calcium percentages.

I use 20% Flock Raiser Feed and provide a separate feeder with Oyster Shells for the active layers. This works out great for the multi aged and multi gendered flock I keep...and I can give a bit of scratch too.

 

[CamTheChknKeeper]

Low protein....kinda like candy.

Feather Fixer Feed doesn't actually 'fix' feathers, it's just a bit higher in protein than most layer feeds(18 vs 16%) but still has layer level calcium(3-4%).

Read the tag sewn into bottom of bag, most important are the protein and calcium percentages.

I use 20% Flock Raiser Feed and provide a separate feeder with Oyster Shells for the active layers. This works out great for the multi aged and multi gendered flock I keep...and I can give a bit of scratch too.

Thank you!!
I just found an older article here on BYC about molting and it agrees with your comments entirely.
Also I only have the two Roos, no hens, so I think I won’t need to give any extra calcium?
I have scratch too, I was thinking that the first cool mornings they’d get some warmth from the corn ‘fat’, but perhaps scratch would give the same boost and also contain some protein.
Thank you again, I’m going to get some Flock Raiser after work today!