My hens are ALL molting now? why?

[Onslow's Hens]

I have no idea why but ALL my hens are molting thru January and into February! Eggs have totally stopped too. All are very healthy, free range all day and have a proper layer (now on game bird for higher protein for molt) diet. Most doing a hard molt! Anyone have any ideas's why this would happen in January and February? Weird! Amish man I buy my feeds from said he has heard about this a lot this winter. Why is this?

 

[Rickba]

That's normal. My Red Sex Links have started to molt. Seems odd since it's a mini-blizzard out there today. But it is what it is. A chickens gonna' do what a chickens gonna' do. Weird huh?

 

[Rickba]

Here's a pick out my door today.

 

[JerryR708]

My chickens molted this January when it was the coldest and had the least amount of daylight hours. I wasn't getting a single egg for 3 weeks. I thought they had mites, but the new feathers grew back in quickly and looked full, shiny and healthy. The reason they did this now, is so that you can get more eggs in summer when the days are longer. They planned ahead and figured, why not do it now since egg production is slower at this time any way.

 

[sourland]

I like @JerryR708 's take on this.

 

[Ridgerunner]

different things can cause a molt, hard or partial. I don't know how many "all" is but if it is a significant number there has probably been a change recently. The normal thing that causes a hard molt is that the days are getting shorter. Has there been a change in lighting lately to make them think the days are getting shorter? That could be you stopping supplemental lights or a change in street lights or security lights.

Stress can cause it. Have you made any changes in housing or something else? Did their water freeze so they have gone extended periods without water? Any predator attacks? You may be unaware of a failed threat. Have you added or subtracted chickens so the pecking order has changed? Chickens really don't like change. it's stressful. Has anything changed?

 

[Onslow's Hens]

I was worried when temps dipped really low and half my hens looked like pin cushions but they seemed to do ok locked in at night and still ran around the farm all day. Sad looking though! No eggs since early January. Frustrating!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

So as it turn out... chickens didn't seem to get the memo about when they should or shouldn't do certain things. It's completely normal for them to molt whenever their body says "go". Though it can be very frustrating to us as keepers, especially like that picture above!

What is the protein % on your game bird feed? Too high as in 30% can be just as detrimental to the kidneys as too much calcium fed long term to birds not in lay. Both or either *can* (doesn't mean will) cause gout (different types) and even kidney failure.

My recommendation is not more than 25% protein... with 20 being probably sufficient. Awesome that you're providing the extra protein. Many don't realize that feathers are made of 90% protein and the amino acids it contains.

I ALWAYS feed flock raiser with 20% protein and 1 ish % calcium... because I always have chicks, broody's, molting hens, juveniles, roosters, and layers present in my flock. I do mix in a little extra game bird or turkey starter to get about 23% protein when I am hatching as it has been shown to give better hatch rates. I was quite impressed with how fast most of the girls returned to lay this year, verses when I used to feed layer... which I won't buy again as it simply doesn't meet the needs or goals for my flock. I do provide free choice oyster shell on the side for layers. Also noting though, that all birds are individuals and age may impact things. None of my ladies had what I would call a hard molt this year. So maybe they wouldn't return to lay as fast if they had. But I DO truly believe the higher protein DOES impact molt for the positive.

And I will note that I don't use artificial light. If you happened to be using light and it went out suddenly that could trigger molt... just for conversation piece.

Also might as well note, since we are talking about it... that light bodied breeds like leghorn will do fine on "layer" (16% protein) while birds like Rocks, Orpington, and RIR will do better with about 18% protein on a regular basis since they are heavier bodied and feathered.

It's hard for us to see their change in demeanor and such during this time that makes it clear just how taxing molt can be.

Hope your birds recover quickly.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

My chickens molted this January when it was the coldest and had the least amount of daylight hours.

Coldest? maybe in your region.

But the shortest day of the year is December 21st and come January... days are getting longer already. Maybe a delayed reaction though?

Geesh, I only wish the chooks cared about when ANYTHING was convenient for me! But yes it's awesome to think ahead and plan any worming type stuff that you may need to do when production isn't in full swing.

 

[Onslow's Hens]

I have 15 chickens and all are in various stages of molt. Nothing changed, water froze a couple of times when temps where in the single digits but not for more than a few hours until I refilled. Normal lighting - no artificial light. Eggs normally slow during winter but mine have stopped. Never had them molt in Jan & Feb. Usually in Oct. Missing my eggs!