Spring Moult! Is This Normal?

[JacobMaxwell]

I got my hens exactly this time last year, as twenty week-olds. I thought the moult was supposed to happen in the fall, but there was no moulting then, and now there are so many feathers in the coop that you might think I was using them as bedding! Is this something to worry about? I know this isn't exactly an emergency, but I didn't know where else to post the question.

 

[bucky52]

one of my two year old molted in January.I was told they go through little molts through out the year.and go into a full molt when they reach the age of two.

 

[Suzie]

I too have found mine moulting at various times, whether it be weather conditions or something else.. I do not know.. I have worried myself sick when they have decided to moult regardless of the dreadful weather conditions... all of mine have been fine... you can offer a supplement of tuna fish or scrambled egg to help them through their moulting...

Good luck!

 

[fishnet1971]

Dont feel bad, I have 3 moulting right now too. Are they confused or what????

 

[Olda Bat]

Two of my five chickens have started molting now too! They are just over a year old. In Colorado, our winter really starts in March....so I have two bare chested ladies (A Black Star and an Australorp) who are molting in the cold snap. However, I can't find a feather anywhere! My ladies instantly eat any feather they find floating about.....but luckly they don't hen peck or pull them out of each other. I've been very concerned that maybe something else is wrong. Especially as I've read that egg production goes down when they molt...but my ladies are ridiculously consistent...even through the winter and I didn't provide any artificial light. I have 5 ladies and I get 2-5 eggs a day, every day! They eat organic feed...but for extra protein, I give them some Greek yogurt on occasion...and they get meal worms every day as my way to call them back into the run. They just see or hear the bag and go nuts. Thoughts, anyone? I just think it is crazy that nature would have them lose their feathers in winter!

 

[lauries]

I live on the Gulf Coast. All of my hens were bought last April 1 as chicks and I have 4 Australorps, 2 New Hampshire Reds, 1 Barred Rock & 3 "Americanas." Last Nov I realized that 2 of the Australorps started having naked butts, then lost their feathers on their bellies. Now I have noticed they seemed to have lost feathers on their backs under their wings. Feathers haven't grown back yet. Also 2 of the Americanas lost their feathers around their backs under their wings. The wings and tail feathers are all there. The Barred Rock and the New Hampshire Reds haven't moulted much if at all to my knowledge. The other two Australorps appear to be maybe starting to lose feathers along their backs/butts as well. I thought it was very strange that they would moult during the cold season and they are not being uniform in who is moulting and who is not. I supplemented their lighting to extend light until around 8 PM, hoping to avoid too much moulting. As days get longer again I will discontinue the extra lighting. They have been great layers. I have gotten 4-8 eggs/day once their started laying and even during the moulting laying hasn't really declined so very much. I figure if I get 6+ eggs several days in a row several of them are rotating on laying 2 days in a row. I have thought at times I saw feathers starting to come back but then next time I looked they were still bare. If they (or others) were pulling the new buds out, how could you stop it? I keep waiting for the feathers to come back. Some posts have said they can be moulting for up to 9 months? Really?