When to expect first molt?

[mountainbunny]

My hens are about 1 year 3 months old and I am curious as to when to expect them to start molting? Are there signs to look for to indicate they are beginning to molt? Just trying to be prepared. Any tips and advice is much appreciated.

 

[Tlmcq]

Usually about 18 months old they go thru first molt. Sometimes just notice extra feathers laying around and grumpy if handled and sometimes feathers laying in yard looking like a bird blew up and half naked. Hens will stop laying and if they seem to be having a particular hard time you can up protein intake, as it takes protein to make feathers. Nutrena makes a great feed called feather fixer that helps during molt.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

From now until December your birds will molt. First sign will be feathers suddenly on the ground. Occasionally a bird will have a hard molt and the first sign is a half naked chicken.

Better layers tend to molt later, and quicker than lazy layers. Up their protein at this time. Switch to a higher protein ration if you aren't already feeding one. 18-22% is best. You can also give higher protein treats like scrambled eggs, cottage cheese and canned fish, but generally the higher protein ration is enough. Keep a separate bowl of oyster shells for the calcium needs.

Most hens will resume laying from December to March depending on when they molted, and if they are higher production breeds.

 

[lazy gardener]

They will molt when they are good and ready. I've had hens in a hard molt in the middle of a very long cold snap. Had one RIR who would blow her feathers every winter. Looked like she'd lost a battle with a weed wacker. A bit later into her molt, she actually looked a bit better: kind of like one of those cellophane wrapped birds in the meat case at my local Hannaford store. I'm actually pleased to see a hen molting at the end of the summer. It means that she won't be nekked come winter.