Please add your experience! Molting Survey: How do your chickens molt?

[Leihamarie]

Hi All,

I'm putting together a "real molting" thread to help new chicken keepers with molting expectations all in one place and would LOVE your input, please!!!! So many chicken care websites claim that molting is very predictable and always happens within certain parameters in a certain order. Rarely do they mention the "looking sick" for a couple days before the molt, and some of the other symptoms that I've both heard/read about from other chicken keepers and experienced myself. Would you please respond to the questions below? Thank you BUNCHES for your input!!!!!

1) What area of the country (or world) does your flock reside in?

2) Do you supplement your flock's light in the winter?

3) What's the youngest age you've seen a chicken molt?

4) What's the average age at which your chickens begin molting?

5) what are some of the accompanying specific symptoms that tell you a molt is about to happen, and for how long? (ie. goes off lay a week prior, lays down away from the flock, stands in a corner of the coop all puffed up for about 3 days beforehand, etc...)

6) How can you tell it's a molt and they're not just sick?

7) Do your chickens behave differently during a molt, and if so how? (ie. some are a little cranky and peck others that get too close, Nope- they behave totally normal, extra sweet to humans, ferociously goes after treats before the head hen, etc...)

8) What month of the year do your chickens molt?

9) What pattern do your chickens molt in, and how long does it usually last? (ie. Always start at the head and work backward, hard molt, soft molt, every which way with no rhyme or reason, always the tail feathers first, then back, then wings? Usually lasts about 4-6 weeks, usually lasts 3 months before they start laying again, etc...)

10) What are your favorite methods to help a chicken through a molt?

11) The CRAZIEST molting experience you've had

12) Anything else you'd like to share with new chicken keepers?

 

[Dawnclucks22]

1) What area of the country (or world) does your flock reside in?
We live in California.
2) Do you supplement your flock's light in the winter?
As you can imagine from living in CA, no need.
3) What's the youngest age you've seen a chicken molt?
I think as young as a year maybe?
4) What's the average age at which your chickens begin molting?
I don't think there's a set age, but I've only had 2 molting experiences in my 3 years again because of my sunny location
5) what are some of the accompanying specific symptoms that tell you a molt is about to happen, and for how long? (ie. goes off lay a week prior, lays down away from the flock, stands in a corner of the coop all puffed up for about 3 days beforehand, etc...)
Let's just say it will look like they exploded.
6) How can you tell it's a molt and they're not just sick?
They will look and act pretty normal, occasionally fluffing and letting out a flurry of feathers.
7) Do your chickens behave differently during a molt, and if so how? (ie. some are a little cranky and peck others that get too close, Nope- they behave totally normal, extra sweet to humans, ferociously goes after treats before the head hen, etc...)
For me there's no real difference except they don't like being held during this time since, as you can imagine, it's uncomfortable.
8) What month of the year do your chickens molt?
During the colder months, so October-February ish.
9) What pattern do your chickens molt in, and how long does it usually last? (ie. Always start at the head and work backward, hard molt, soft molt, every which way with no rhyme or reason, always the tail feathers first, then back, then wings? Usually lasts about 4-6 weeks, usually lasts 3 months before they start laying again, etc...)
First it starts slow - just a few feathers here and there, and then WHOA WHAT HAPPENED HERE for a couple weeks while every. feather. falls. For me it takes a month or two.
10) What are your favorite methods to help a chicken through a molt?
I like to give them scrambled eggs and moral support. Everyone gets a bad hair day now and then.
11) The CRAZIEST molting experience you've had
Not really "crazy" but my BR legit looked like a porcupine and it was super funny.
12) Anything else you'd like to share with new chicken keepers?
I think that's all really - there are plenty of recipes for really good molting treats, eggs especially. It kind of puts the nutrients "back in" and is actually good for them and not technically cannibalism. I can answer any other questions you have too!

 

[aart]

Will add that I have kept chickens for 4 years.

1) What area of the country (or world) does your flock reside in?
SW Michigan

2) Do you supplement your flock's light in the winter?
Yes. I've seen it impede molting fully or partially and also not seem to affect it at all.

3) What's the youngest age you've seen a chicken molt?
Chickens have 3 juvenile molts before about 6 months old.
I have had a 9 month old have a full molt in Sept.

4) What's the average age at which your chickens begin molting?
Adult molts usually happen in the fall starting at about 18 months old(give or take a few months.

5) what are some of the accompanying specific symptoms that tell you a molt is about to happen, and for how long? (ie. goes off lay a week prior, lays down away from the flock, stands in a corner of the coop all puffed up for about 3 days beforehand, etc...)
I won't speculate specifics as all birds are different and live animals don't always conform to the 'rules of thumb' or read the books or posts that do offer specifics. They will usually stop laying before molt begins. They may be a bit lethargic and isolate from the flock. When exactly molt begins can be hard to tell as some birds molt slowly, others molt hard and all of a sudden there are feathers ev.ery.where.

6) How can you tell it's a molt and they're not just sick?
If a bird is looking scraggly and acting lethargic, I examine bird for any anatomical abnormalities or new pin feathers(indicating molt), and may isolate bird to observe input/output and crop function.

7) Do your chickens behave differently during a molt, and if so how? (ie. some are a little cranky and peck others that get too close, Nope- they behave totally normal, extra sweet to humans, ferociously goes after treats before the head hen, etc...)
Some are pretty much unaffected, but most will isolate a bit both during the day and roost apart at night during part of their molt or most of it. New pin feathers appear to be 'uncomfortable' so they avoid being touched.

8) What month of the year do your chickens molt?
Molt is usually triggered by the shortening daylight hours. Have seen some birds begin to molt in August, some not until November, and others in between. Tho supplemental lighting might be skewing that.

9) What pattern do your chickens molt in, and how long does it usually last? (ie. Always start at the head and work backward, hard molt, soft molt, every which way with no rhyme or reason, always the tail feathers first, then back, then wings? Usually lasts about 4-6 weeks, usually lasts 3 months before they start laying again, etc...)
There is no 'always'.
Could be any of the patterns you mention for any one bird.

10) What are your favorite methods to help a chicken through a molt?
I feed a 20% protein 'all flock' type feed full time, with oyster/egg shell in a separate container for the layers, so don't do much different, they really don't need any 'help', except maybe a bit extra animal protein.

11) The CRAZIEST molting experience you've had
This is the worst molt I've seen, didn't seem to faze her much tho.

12) Anything else you'd like to share with new chicken keepers?
Don't over-react...do more observation than action, including when seeking advice.

 

[chicken4prez]

1) What area of the country (or world) does your flock reside in?

Southern Ontario, Canada.

2) Do you supplement your flock's light in the winter?

Yes, we have windows and sometimes if it's warm enough they can go outside.

3) What's the youngest age you've seen a chicken molt?

If you're talking about the molt after all the juvenile molts then after a year or so I think... I usually don't keep track of my chickens ages very well.

4) What's the average age at which your chickens begin molting?

About 15 months but it does depend on the breed and the chicken.


5) What are some of the accompanying specific symptoms that tell you a molt is about to happen, and for how long? (ie. goes off lay a week prior, lays down away from the flock, stands in a corner of the coop all puffed up for about 3 days beforehand, etc...)

The laying production dies down immensely and I notice a lot of feathers everywhere. Usually it lasts for a couple weeks for my flock.


6) How can you tell it's a molt and they're not just sick?

Whenever they're molting I watch their behaviour. I'm always watching them though, molting or not.

7) Do your chickens behave differently during a molt, and if so how? (ie. some are a little cranky and peck others that get too close, Nope- they behave totally normal, extra sweet to humans, ferociously goes after treats before the head hen, etc...)

It depends on the chicken. Sometimes they like hanging around in the pen but some others like free ranging and act completely normal.



8) What month of the year do your chickens molt?

All seasons.

9) What pattern do your chickens molt in, and how long does it usually last? (ie. Always start at the head and work backward, hard molt, soft molt, every which way with no rhyme or reason, always the tail feathers first, then back, then wings? Usually lasts about 4-6 weeks, usually lasts 3 months before they start laying again, etc...)

The feathers start thinning out and then it starts at the head and tail. Then the rest of the body. Like I said before it lasts a couple weeks for them to finish and start getting their new feathers back in. I'm nor sure when they start laying again because I always have over 20 laying hens so it's hard to tell.

10) What are your favorite methods to help a chicken through a molt?

Extra nutrition and some treats. Not too much.

11) The CRAZIEST molting experience you've had

I've been raising chickens for over 8 years and somewhere in that time a hen was molting and the flock pecked her till she was bloody all over. We tried our best but she ended up passing sadly.


12) Anything else you'd like to share with new chicken keepers?

Molting is normal and the hens do shut down so don't be worried. It's normal but if there does seem to be something concerning you, don't be afraid to speak up.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Good thread idea.

Here are my answers.

1) What area of the country (or world) does your flock reside in?
Pacific Northwet (er, Northwest...specifically northern Oregon)

2) Do you supplement your flock's light in the winter?
No. Burned my first coop down. NO electric lights in coop now. Ever.

3) What's the youngest age you've seen a chicken molt?
Agree with aart. Chicks molt to grow new feathers until adult-hood at about 6 months. After that, the earliest adult I've seen is this crop's hatches. Crazy weather and several of that batches' pullets at about 8 months of age.

4) What's the average age at which your chickens begin molting?
Second fall. I generally hatch in early Spring/late winter. Most birds don't molt that first fall but the next.

5) what are some of the accompanying specific symptoms that tell you a molt is about to happen, and for how long? (ie. goes off lay a week prior, lays down away from the flock, stands in a corner of the coop all puffed up for about 3 days beforehand, etc...)
C.R.A.N.K.Y.

6) How can you tell it's a molt and they're not just sick?
Egg production goes down, I look for pin feathers on the bird and the pillow fight in the coop.

7) Do your chickens behave differently during a molt, and if so how? (ie. some are a little cranky and peck others that get too close, Nope- they behave totally normal, extra sweet to humans, ferociously goes after treats before the head hen, etc...)
They don't like to be touched by anything or anyone. They pick on each other when they'd normally be fine. They squawk a lot more. In general, they are simply cranky.

8) What month of the year do your chickens molt?
In my wet Oregon, I can count on the molt around October as our daylight gets shorter then. If we've had an unusual warm September and then the cold hits, I will get fast, hard molts.

9) What pattern do your chickens molt in, and how long does it usually last? (ie. Always start at the head and work backward, hard molt, soft molt, every which way with no rhyme or reason, always the tail feathers first, then back, then wings? Usually lasts about 4-6 weeks, usually lasts 3 months before they start laying again, etc...)
No set pattern. They seem to do it individually.

10) What are your favorite methods to help a chicken through a molt?
I like Nutrena's Feather Fixer feed. That does seem to help. Just adding more protein to their diet helps as does BOSS (black oil sunflower seeds)

11) The CRAZIEST molting experience you've had.
A New Hampshire molted in November one year where her back half was buck naked. Funniest looking bird. I felt bad for her.
I have one now that is the oddest, worst molt I've had in a long time. I keep meaning to get a pic and post it here. She lost most of her feathers and looks like a porcupine. Poor thing is miserable with herself and anyone around her.

12) Anything else you'd like to share with new chicken keepers?
This too shall pass.

 

[Pork Pie]

This may (or may not) be interesting.

I live in East Africa, on the equator. Daylight hours remain constant throughout the year. Chickens do not undergo any physically discernible moult and laying remains constant throughout the year.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

This may (or may not) be interesting.

I live in East Africa, on the equator. Daylight hours remain constant throughout the year. Chickens do not undergo any physically discernible moult and laying remains constant throughout the year.

Okay. Sure. Rub it in will ya.
Sun. Is that the yellow round ball in the sky? I think I saw that once or twice, fleetingly, between rain clouds, awhile ago.

Seriously, very interesting that you see no molt and have laying year round. But at the equator you would have even days.

How long do your hens lay in a lifetime? Commercial lines are played out here in 2 years at most 3. Heritage by 5. Do you see shorter or longer longevity since the birds aren't molting to replenish, or maybe soft molting.

 

[Pork Pie]

Okay. Sure. Rub it in will ya.
Sun. Is that the yellow round ball in the sky? I think I saw that once or twice, fleetingly, between rain clouds, awhile ago.

Seriously, very interesting that you see no molt and have laying year round. But at the equator you would have even days.

How long do your hens lay in a lifetime? Commercial lines are played out here in 2 years at most 3. Heritage by 5. Do you see shorter or longer longevity since the birds aren't molting to replenish, or maybe soft molting.

Sorry, didn't mean to remind y'all of this wonderful time of year Exactly, daylight hours are constant year round.

I usually replace my stock after a year or so of laying. Whilst not commercial, they are a landrace "breed" and so lay almost every day. Like commercial birds, after a couple of years, they are pretty much fit for the crock pot. It's very hard to get heritage breeds here, so I could not comment about them.

They must obviously replace their plumage, but i can only assume its a year-round, more gradual affair

 

[kesrchicky16]

11) The CRAZIEST molting experience you've had
This is the worst molt I've seen, didn't seem to faze her much tho.
View attachment 1196849
.

Poor baby

 

[JeanR]

Have raised breeding birds, Bantams, for 30 years, with records of parentage and sales of some. Molting used to be pretty much November, December (Montana) and sometimes VERY cold. I have never had a bird act "sick", or any other difference,even with winter molt. Mine are rarely outside, in winter and have cedar shavings bedding, low windows on the South to get any winter sunshine. Never let the houses go below 25 degrees in winter, with a radiator heater (thermostat) to keep temperatures safe for single combs (show and breeding birds). House is warmest near the ceiling, where the birds roost. House is insulated all around--and temperature fluctuates widely, but within safe and comfortable range for happy bantams. All birds do not molt at the same time. And they do not all molt the same pattern. Some just start dropping feathers random, and before they have shed all the feathers, new ones are already filling in spaces, aside from tail feathers, they do not look too bad. Others have bare, necks or rumps and really look awful. Roosters are the worst, often losing all tail feathers, rear end looks awful, then the new tail may be half grown in before the hackle sheds--molt takes several weeks.
Then, 2017--most of the birds molted 3 times! Winter, summer and now fall! Weather was in the 90s for weeks, not usual for us, and no rain. Birds were outside every day,(green grass, watered and mowed short) pens well shaded, windows open day and night. Didn't lay as well as usual, but enough. Never have my chickens had predicable molt, except that setting hens usually molt after weaning their chicks (and I used to hatch year around). Mother Nature says , LAY EGGS, SET, MOLT.
Now, if I had a flock, all hens together, might be a different picture. My birds are in large separate pens with large outside green grassy pastures by dry days. Never out in rain or snow, even not until dew is off the grass. No sickness, no wet cold birds, wih dirty feet, so no dirty eggs. Love them all, and have worked it out over the years, so it is not a big job to enjoy the families of chicks (know them all while they are growing up) and choose any to keep and which to sell. Oldest hen is 11 right now--and laid until this year. And she still looks like a pullet--she stays!