Teach me about molting...

[Mattake2]

I'm still pretty new to raising chickens & was wondering if you all could share some info about molting. How long does it last? When does it start? I've heard that it affects egg production. I really don't know anything about it.

 

[ChickenToes]

Here are some older threads that deal with molting.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=63298

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=48119

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=46569


Hope that helps!

 

[Mattake2]

Very helpful! Thanks ChickenToes.

 

[SpottedCrow]

Chicks moult 3 times in their first year. First they lose the baby down, then they lose their "teenaged" feathers and then they get their first adult feathers.
I know that they can change colours, patterns in that first year.
When we first got Obelisk she was solid black but she's grown in some white splash feathers with successive moults.