what time of year do chickens molt

[katapillarb]

I have two barred rock hens and one of them has stopped laying and her feathers are easily falling out. She acts the same and is still eating. Its been 30s and 40s at night. Do they molt in november

 

[Wyandottes7]

Chickens usually molt in the fall and winter. This is a perfectly normal time for them to be molting.

 

[katapillarb]

OK thank you

 

[islandgirl82]

Yes when the temps drop due to seasonal change. You can be sure they're molting if you see pins where they've lost their feathers...looking like hedgehog quills. Those are the new feathers growing in. You'll find they get uncomfortable during the molt and birds who don't normally mind being handled will avoid it during this time.

 

[sarahsladies]

Got an entire flock that all went into molt together last week. I think "molt" is chicken code for "strike."