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

[Sunshine Flock]

I'm not good with lists of questions, so I'll just say the following:

I acquired my chicken units in March and they're nearly eight months old. I'm new to chickens and wings and feathers and am not loving the chicken molt process.

First, it was my understanding they wouldn't do a grownup post-chickhood molt until they were well over a year old.

Second, they sure ain't pretty right now.

Third, not only do they look like alien creatures in their de-fluffed state and with all those feather tubes sticking out everywhere, but to lose their rear fender feathers, too? Thereby decreasing the beak to backend length quite significantly?

It's frankly rather alarming.

Three of the six are molting, all hens. One was lethargic for maybe a week before the molting started and would gaze up at the sky and just kind of looked forlorn and love sick like someone had broken her heart. Another seems just as bewildered at her diminished state as I am.

And the third molter doesn't do well in wind. She kind of blows sideways off course and pretends she meant to go way over there instead of over here and starts digging for bugs wherever it is she ends up.

The only other indication a molt was in the works but possibly also death because what do I know as a new chicken person, was the growing heaps of downy feathers in the coop every morning. Either someone was being gang attacked or death was imminent or a hen was defying everything I've read and was merely molting.

My rooster crowed when he was barely two months old. It was alarming because we thought he was making a death gargle. I'm now beginning to think my chickens are simply advanced learners and are hitting their milestones early.

This discussion is much needed. I look forward to reading every last word.

Thank you!

 

[Jajika]

Hi All,


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

2) Do you supplement your flock's light in the winter? No

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

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

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...) They stop laying and there are feathers everywhere.

6) How can you tell it's a molt and they're not just sick? Keep eating and moving about. Basic behavior is the same, except they are not as "friendly."

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...) My chickens get a bit cranky.

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

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 molting begins at the head and moves back. It lasts at least a month or two.

10) What are your favorite methods to help a chicken through a molt? Lots of good treats and always fresh water every day.

11) The CRAZIEST molting experience you've had. About six years ago with a black Maran. She really looked ugly.

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

"Be patient and give your chickens lots of good food, some special treats and keep your sense of humor."