Roo molting in the cold autumn

[rancher hicks]

the thing is none of the others are molting. wouldn't they all molt at approx the same time? does age play a -part?

 

[Lollipop]

Quote:
Sometimes not. Chickens moult during their second year. Sometimes they moult so slow you can`t even tell it and sometimes they seem to drop all their feathers at once annd appear nekkid. Just be patient and let nature take it`s course..........POp

 

[gritsar]

I rarely ever close the shutters on my coop. However today we got hit with a cold front and rain. DH insisted I close the shutters tonight because even he felt sorry for my naked chickens. My roo is almost finished molting, but some of my girls look pitiful!

 

[cmom]

Several of my birds just recently molted and several more are molting right now.

 

[crooked stripe]

Is the 1 1/2 year molt the only major molt or does it happen every year or so? My hens molted at about 10 months but this one is major at 1 1/2 years.

 

[krstms]

My rooster is starting to molt and he is only about 24 weeks old. Is that not normal? I read in one of the posts that they do it in their second year.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
He may just be still in the process of getting his adult plumage. My gang went thru several episodes of that before they truly looked like adult birds.

 

[GrannySue]

A newbie going into my henhouse would think I was really spoiling the girls. The floor looks like a feather bed!
2 mutts, 2 Australorps and 1 buff Orp are doing what I call "shedding".

My Hylines didn't molt last year and I wonder if they ever will. Poor old things are so hybridized, all they knew how to do was eat, drink, poop and lay eggs. Now that they're about 3 1/2 they don't even lay any more. Welcome to the retirement home!

 

[Pampered Hen]

My 1.5 year old hens are in various stages of the moult. They do look pathetic! One has naked butt, the other lookes like a hedgehog from another planet and the rest just don't look like themselves. From the outside, they look as if neglecetd on all levels, where in fact they live pamperd lives. I will be glad to see the ladies restored with new feathers. Oh, and of course they are on hiatus in terms of egg production. They do deserve a break.

 

[krstms]

YOu were right gritsar. After looking closer I could see the new follicles where the feathers were growing in. He looked kinda wierd for a while but is better now.