Something fishy going on with my flock

[ravenzero]

I have three rhode Island Reds and 1 White Leghorn, they have been just fine for a year and half, The past two weeks we have had cooling temps in 40-50 degrees in portland or, and now I notice my girls have stopped laying, and also, the three RIR have been picking on the White Leghorn, she is getting her feathers picked and she looks awful.
I also have a red heat lamp on at night in the coop, could the hens be picking on her white feather because they look red in the light?

Any advice is appreicated.

 

[aoxa]

Are you sure she is being picked on and not just molting? They can look rather weird during a molt.

Some of my worst molts this year. Also - take that heat lamp away. That can cause so many more issues than it can help.

 

[kreagerm]

x2 on molting!!!!

 

[donrae]

Prime time to molt and take the winter off. Maybe post a pic?

In your area you really don't need to supplement heat, even during molting. It's really not that cold.

 

[cubalaya]

in the fall chickens moult and slow down or stop laying because of the daylight hours being less. adult chickens don't need any heat lights. you could put a normal light on a timer in your coop and fool the hens into laying but i think that it burns them out and is unnatural.