Molting

[farmerchris]

When do chickens usually molt? I think i read that this is the time of year but my cousin thinks they don't do it in the fall/winter time.

 

[justusnak]

farmerchris....your cousin is wrong. They should be molting about now...or actually about finished molting. Mine just went through thier molt...and are finally laying better!

 

[speckledhen]

The first true molt comes around 18-19 months old. Mine started at the end of the summer and some are continuing right now. One hasnt noticably started yet, so I bet she'll be bald in much cooler weather. They are 19 months old, at least my original flock is.

 

[Barnyard Dawg]

Our chickens have never really molted as far as losing many feathers; we have noticed a reduction in eggs for a very short time. Mainly they lose a small patch of feathers in the breast area. We will cull out many of our chickens and keep our main egg producers and make room for the younger chickens when they go into production.