Ended Official BYC Contest: Worst Chicken Molt Pictures, Fall-Winter 2013

[Luv Turkey Talk]

I realize the contest is for chickens but I just had to share what happened overnight to my BS girl Sweet Sarah! I was shocked! None of our turkeys have ever molted like this before!

 

[Luv Turkey Talk]

Poor little girl with no tail

[/IMG]

What she looked like before molt. She was getting ready to defend her rank. Notice in the first single pick that she has a nice beard length this season. She's almost three yrs old.

 

[chachachick]

Oh my goodness! I had no idea! Poor chickens, I apologize but my DH and I are having a good laugh at your expense.

 

[suzilovesbirds]

OMG! What in the world? Im also new at this and why? do they molt and do we meed to make something for them to wear thank goodness it is our chickys first year and we have about 3 weeks of really freezing weather. We were just talking about rubbing vasoline on wattles and combs Oh dear. Hey what about ducks and Guineas? will they molt as well?
Thank you for such a nice Forum!!!

Suzanne

 

[Fairfieldchick]

Name: Muffeet
Category: other
My silver laced cochan was broody for about a month then we got her a clutch of fertilized eggs to sit on, which she did for over 3 weeks. Once the eggs hatched I suppose she was overdue for a molt. One night I think she sneezed and all but 5 wing feathers and some little feathers around her neck came out!

 

[thumper4269]

Fairfield, I almost spit my coffee on the screen when you said she sneezed and lost her feathers.. My White Ameracuana has started a hard molt and if she sneezes, she could be bald. I do see pinfeathers under all the fluff but she is an unhappy bird. I will try to post her pics soon as she comes out of the corner...

 

[suzilovesbirds]

you guys are great ! makes me laugh so hard! cant wait to see the pics!

 

[miquwid]

Name: Muffeet
Category: other
My silver laced cochan was broody for about a month then we got her a clutch of fertilized eggs to sit on, which she did for over 3 weeks. Once the eggs hatched I suppose she was overdue for a molt. One night I think she sneezed and all but 5 wing feathers and some little feathers around her neck came out!

Omg poor baby

 

[Tacampbell1973]

Quote:

 

[Nambroth]

OMG! What in the world? Im also new at this and why? do they molt and do we meed to make something for them to wear thank goodness it is our chickys first year and we have about 3 weeks of really freezing weather. We were just talking about rubbing vasoline on wattles and combs

Oh dear. Hey what about ducks and Guineas? will they molt as well?
Thank you for such a nice Forum!!!

Suzanne

How cold does it get? For the most part I let mine stay outside without heat when they molt; unless it is really really cold (we had some -30°F days last year) I let them be. The only time I put 'clothes' on them is if another chicken is plucking out the blood feathers.

Most chickens do not have a hard molt (like the photos here!) in their first year of life. Some do, but most do not. When they hit the one year old mark, that fall/winter they seem to start having heavier molts.

Also, not all breeds or individuals seem to have bad molts like these. They might lose less feathers at one time and molt gradually. It all depends on their genetics mostly, and somewhat on overall husbandry (care, stress, feed, etc).