When do chickens molt

[poodlepill]

Mine are 18 weeks and 14 weeks old, just curious when is they're first molt?

 

[kyeschicks]

whenever they feel like it

well it depends

 

[greathorse]

Quote:
Chickens molt anytime you want to do the following

Show them
Sell them
Show them off to your friends that want to see what your snobby heritage breeds look like
They have access to outdoors and sunburn from being out there
When you need eggs the most
When you want that last dozen to set for a customer
In general anytime you really really need them not to

On a more serious note, it is generally beleive that they will molt somewhere around 16 to 18 months of age.

I had a bunch of RIR molt at 12 months but I think I sort of forced that with a change in lighting (live and learn)

I am talking about the first hard molt, they molt off the fluff and juvenile feathers and on and on when they are young. I have young cockerals that are dreadfully ugly right now as they are molting their neck feathers and growing in their adult hackles. Sort of a constant molt when they are young.

I am sure a bit of a google will give you a more specific molting process than this rather long rambling observation of annoying poultry habits.

 

[poodlepill]

Ahhhhh OK I didn't realize it was random, thanks. So when my cute little "city girl" niece that LOVES animals and wants to be a country girl and collect eggs with me will see nekkid chickens