still no molt???

[Hennyhandler]

I have ten hens that are over a year old now and still have not molted or at least not that I know of. I have seen pictures posted on here of people's hens when they have molted and no sign of it. I thought by now they would have.

Another concern of mine is that my hens do have a lot of feathers that are missing on their backs but that is because of a rooster I had awhile back. That has been three or four months, possibly five, and they sure are taken their time growing them back. One or two is really doing good but the others aren't. I do have saddles though they will where them until the clasp becomes loose and I have to refix them.

I am simply waiting on something to happen. Lose them, grow them.

I just want some progress. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[gritsar]

The majority of my adult flock had their first big molt in the 17 to 19 month range. One hen never did molt with the rest of them, she was closer to 2 years old before she had her first adult molt.

Regarding the feathers - if the feather is completely gone, shaft and all it will start to grow back immediately. If the feather is broken off, but the shaft is still intact, they won't get a new one to replace it until they molt.
You can up their protein to help feather regrowth, by switching to a higher protein food or offering high protein snacks like cheese, yogurt and cat food.

 

[CMV]

Your hens will likely molt at any time from now until the end of fall. Most of mine were nearly 2 y.o. when they molted. One molted this time of year, but the rest molted early fall to early winter last year. The last one was naked when it was about 30 degrees at night. Poor girl.

 

[CindyG]

My chickens are only young, no one is laying yet, so I've never seen a moult...do they actually lose all their feathers? There are always lots of feathers in the coop and run, so someone is obviously losing some, but is that the same thing as moulting?

 

[pgpoultry]

Different hens moult different amounts, but they won't go naked.
My big Brahma boys moult their primary tail feathers and wing feathers and only a few off the backs. My Warrens just have a bit of a general feather loss.

Sandie