moulting

[cashew]

Does Anybody Know How Long Barred Rocks Moult? Mine Have Been Moulting For About 3 Months And Have Not Been Laying Either.they Are Between 1 To 3 Years Old.

 

[acid_chipmunk]

Are you sure they are molting and that they don't have mites or some other parasite?

 

[cashew]

Quote:
I dont think they do. How can a person tell if they do?

 

[acid_chipmunk]

Mites are little bugs. Very tiny bugs. Do your birds have pin feathers coming in? And, have they lost feathers all over or just in one particular spot?

 

[cashew]

They lost feathers all over their body about 2 months ago. They all have gotten new ones now but the havent laid a single egg in nearly 3 months. I have 17 of them 3 ars dominiqes 1 a wellsummer 1 a big white one 1 a big black one and the rest is barred rock. I just think it is odd none of them are laying. They eat well and drink too they look and act healthy they just are not laying any. I have some golden laced in a building right beside them and they are laying.

 

[BooBear]

Sounds like the laying issue is not molt related.

Chickens natural cycle means that they will stop during the winter. This has to do with the shortening of daylight hours. Many folks that want eggs through winter will add supplimental lighting to give the hens an extra 2 hours of daylight to trick them into laying. When adding light it can take a couple of weeks for them to start laying again.