Red sexlinks molting?

[Gleevo]

Hello,

Long/detailed post warning!

First time having hens I traded for some broilers as I always wanted my own fresh eggs! I was told they were 1 year old and just started to molt, received them August 8th. Initially was getting 2 eggs a day plus one very soft shelled (broken) one every other day, right now only getting one per day and a soft shelled one every couple days.

They were on 18% layer with crushed egg shell and grit free choice, giving them some cracked corn, kitchen vegetable scraps grass etc. Did a lot of reading about the molting process and discovered the need for protein so about two weeks ago I started giving them black sunflower seed, chick starter 19%, stopped with the cracked corn and continued with grass and also all our kitchen vegetable and meat scraps. The 18% layer, grit and egg shell remain available but they're definitely choosing the chick starter.

Currently they're living in my brand new 8'x12' shed while I'm waiting for a permit to build a proper coop but I have them in a 4'x8' space with roosts, nesting boxes 4' tall walls then chicken wire to the ceiling which is 8’ tall, overhead lighting from 6am to 9/10pm daily. They've been in this space for about 3 weeks so they're quite use to it.

So; are they molting? How much longer can I expect this to last? What else can I do for them? Any other tips or advice would be great!

 

[sourland]

They are molting and a bit out of condition as indicated by the paleness of their combs. It may be a month or more before they regain condition and restart laying.

 

[The Moonshiner]

I wouldn't buy any RSL in most.
Around here when they hit their 18 month molt. The egg factories auction them off using selling for about a $1 a piece. Buyers scoop them up and resale them as 1 year olds for quite a nice profit.
Once they get through their molt they are very poor producers because theyre spent.

 

[aart]

Sure looks like molt to me.
Pale combs could be due to laying status(not laying=paler combs).
The 19% feed is good, with OS for the ones still laying(are they eating it?).
Sunflower seeds are high in fat and fiber, so go easy on that.

 

[Aapomp831]

Mealworms... best source of protein.

 

[aart]

Mealworms... best source of protein.

Lots of fat there too....so go easy.

 

[Chickenmomma9099]

Hello,

Long/detailed post warning!

First time having hens I traded for some broilers as I always wanted my own fresh eggs! I was told they were 1 year old and just started to molt, received them August 8th. Initially was getting 2 eggs a day plus one very soft shelled (broken) one every other day, right now only getting one per day and a soft shelled one every couple days.

They were on 18% layer with crushed egg shell and grit free choice, giving them some cracked corn, kitchen vegetable scraps grass etc. Did a lot of reading about the molting process and discovered the need for protein so about two weeks ago I started giving them black sunflower seed, chick starter 19%, stopped with the cracked corn and continued with grass and also all our kitchen vegetable and meat scraps. The 18% layer, grit and egg shell remain available but they're definitely choosing the chick starter.

Currently they're living in my brand new 8'x12' shed while I'm waiting for a permit to build a proper coop but I have them in a 4'x8' space with roosts, nesting boxes 4' tall walls then chicken wire to the ceiling which is 8’ tall, overhead lighting from 6am to 9/10pm daily. They've been in this space for about 3 weeks so they're quite use to it.

So; are they molting? How much longer can I expect this to last? What else can I do for them? Any other tips or advice would be great!

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Hi I know this is an old post but did yours ever went into molt? Mine are “molting” at very slow rate. An older gal I got it took her a year and half maybe to get back all her feathers. And my two left are missing feathers since last summer and haven’t grown them back. I give. 16% layer feed now plus mealworms, plus scrambled eggs and veggies as treats some days and canned tuna. They still haven’t grown all feathers back.

Let me know how yours turned out if they ever molted and stopped laying during the molt.

Thanks