The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Lacy Blues]

I hope I have not been premature but I put the molt girl back out today. In the 40s and supposed to stay in the 40s tonight then to 51 tomorrow with low of 45. I was hoping some of those feathers would unfurl before the Monday night low of 26.

I had to put 2 other girls in the separation area because they were harassing her. They won't come out until she has feathers but at least they're in the corner where they can see everyone else.

She just sat on the roost all day. I gave her some meat around 4 pm and then took the waterer to her and she drank a long time. I'll observe tomorrow. I just came in from outside and she was still on there okay.

I'm sure she'll be fine as long as there are no drafts.

When it gets too cold for your comfort, bring her in for the night. If the next day is warm or there is someplace warm where she can hang out, she'll probably be fine.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Here she is today without the "apron".

 

[Lacy Blues]

poor baby.

 

[vpatt]

Here she is today without the "apron".

Oh wow.....my chickies don't have a single bare spot......at least four of mine are in their second winter. I hope she does ok....she looks so sad.

 

[vpatt]

But think how pretty all those brand new feathers are gonna look.

 

[Leahs Mom]

50 F. here today. I opened the barn and a few ventured out and then...I saw her! The molt girl came out. She hasn't been off the roost since yesterday when I put her back out there.

It started raining and the others ventured back in but she was just standing there so I "herded" her in. She's moving slow and I could have picked her up but it hurts her to be touched so I didn't. Decided to shut the gate into the barn so she doesn't end up getting outside and nabbed by a hawk in her slow condition. Plus they've not gone outside since moving into the barn so they're not used to where to go yet.

 

[lalaland]

good thinking on herding her back in. Hurts just to look at her.
44 degrees here and raining! Turning to snow tonight and then back to "normal" in the teens and twenties. Should stay above zero for the week.

My regular flock has stopped laying altogether, although the girls who were earliest to molt are pinking back up in their combs. Thankfully I'm getting a few eggs from the 5 new ladies, who are doing just great.

back to cleaning!

 

[rowerjen]

Here she is today without the "apron".

When my Barnevleder went into a heavy molt she looked even worse if you can imagine. She was the one I referred to as "oven ready." Poor things. Have others noticed any personality changes during a heavy molt? Seems like I have a rolling feather explosion with my older hens. My Black australorp is going through it now. She's gone from missy bossy pants to being downright timid. Momma B, the nearly bald barnie was same way, and she's still unusually timid even though she has her feathers back.

 

[vpatt]

Do they always molt in the fall or can it happen at other times?

 

[Leahs Mom]

Mine do change in personality but I think it's because they feel crummy.

@vpatt
It seems the normal adult molt is in the fall but the juvies can also have a mild molt based on their age.

This is my theory.... and only a theory. What I "think" is normal would be to molt after a mamma broody sets her last chicks in thesummer based on a hormone cycle. Then they're all feathered and ready for the cold of late fall and winter in a timely manner. But since we've bred for them NOT to brood and to lay a huge amount of eggs, I think that the hormone cycle is off-kilter so we end up with these birds molting too late in the year and they sometimes get caught with their clothes off when it's too cold for that nonsense.

Again, just my theory.