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

[hensfortherapy]

Oh my! My chickens have never molted that much. The frizzle looks almost ready for the stew pot.

 

[suzilovesbirds]

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).

 

[suzilovesbirds]

Hi!
ThNks for the info! Here in central texas it only hits the freezing mark about 3 weeks in the year.
I also have to add as much as I love to shop I could not imagine shopping for chicken clothes but hey i would do it, giggling the whe way. love the pics and info!

 

[suzilovesbirds]

 

[Gardengirl73]

Holy moly! That poor baby is nekkid!

 

[RedIII]

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).

This is very true. Out of all of my girls that have molted this year (and there have been plenty) I only got a couple that ended up being serious scraggle muffins. The others just looked a little haggard for a while, and then filled out.

Although I have to admit, my worst molter is sojourning in the garage near the heat lamp, as she is half naked and it's gotten pretty cold outside.....

 

[JKRopee]

I am curious about using heat in the coop when the hens are molting. Is it necessary? I live in the mountains in Western North Carolina. It is pretty consistently below freezing at night for December and January. I have a small coop and 6 hens that are from 16 weeks to 2 years old. My two older hens are showing signs of molting and I don't want them to be unusually cold. My instinct is to just leave them alone but if it gets snowy I am concerned it will just be too much for them. Typically they free-range all day. . . anyhoo. . . I'd appreciate a little input!

 

[zinkie]

I have a 8 month old Astrolough (sp?) who is molting lightly. Not as bad as many on here. She does not seem to be eating well. When they are going to bed, and on the roost, I checked their crop and everyone else had big full crops, and for the second night in the row, hers is almost empty.

I brought her in and tried to feed her, and I think she was too nervous and would not eat. When I put her back with her sisters, I gave her a piece of cheese and she did eat it.

Should I be worried?

 

[miquwid]

I have a 8 month old Astrolough (sp?) who is molting lightly. Not as bad as many on here. She does not seem to be eating well. When they are going to bed, and on the roost, I checked their crop and everyone else had big full crops, and for the second night in the row, hers is almost empty.

I brought her in and tried to feed her, and I think she was too nervous and would not eat. When I put her back with her sisters, I gave her a piece of cheese and she did eat it.

Should I be worried

Well if she isn't eating then it is probably time to quarentine and try some scramnble eggs, tuna, poly vi sol with no iron vitamins, oregano and garlic (immune system boost).

Good luck.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Hey, all! Here is just one of my Meyer EEs going through moult this year (both photos of same bird). Poor things have dropped ALL their feathers--never seen anything like it!