Why again?

[Mountain Peeps]

Hi everyone!

I thought chickens were only supposed to molt once or twice a year? Well, this is my girls' fourth or fifth molt and it's not even fall when they usually molt. They have food, water and I try to keep up on cleaning their quarters. The only thing I can think of is that we've had bears around here (but only for the past week) and that their coop is behind some buildings so they are getting less light.

What do you think is wrong with them?

 

[arkansas55]

Hi everyone!

I thought chickens were only supposed to molt once or twice a year? Well, this is my girls' fourth or fifth molt and it's not even fall when they usually molt. They have food, water and I try to keep up on cleaning their quarters. The only thing I can think of is that we've had bears around here (but only for the past week) and that their coop is behind some buildings so they are getting less light.

What do you think is wrong with them?

awww,i don't know but i sympathize,poor girl's,my guess would be stress? sending hugs

 

[Wyandottes7]

I'm not sure what is wrong. I know that my birds occasionally molt twice a year, but I've never had one molt 5 times.

However, one of my birds has been molting almost the whole year- he molted last winter (but not completely), dropped his tail feathers in late spring, some neck feathers this summer, and is only now returning to his usual, non-molting appearance (I've almost forgotten what he looks like with all his feathers)!

What are you feeding them? Sometimes, if birds don't get enough protein, they will remain in a poor feather condition for a long time.

 

[Mountain Peeps]

I'm not sure what is wrong. I know that my birds occasionally molt twice a year, but I've never had one molt 5 times.

However, one of my birds has been molting almost the whole year- he molted last winter (but not completely), dropped his tail feathers in late spring, some neck feathers this summer, and is only now returning to his usual, non-molting appearance (I've almost forgotten what he looks like with all his feathers)!

What are you feeding them? Sometimes, if birds don't get enough protein, they will remain in a poor feather condition for a long time.

They get a 16% layer feed along with very occasional scratch and table scrapes.

Also I forgot to mention that their molts are not intense. There are just feathers laying everywhere and they quit laying. But they haven't gone bald once.

 

[Mountain Peeps]

awww,i don't know but i sympathize,poor girl's,my guess would be stress? sending hugs

Thanks!

 

[arkansas55]

Thanks!

aww your welcome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[aart]

Hi everyone!

I thought chickens were only supposed to molt once or twice a year? Well, this is my girls' fourth or fifth molt and it's not even fall when they usually molt. They have food, water and I try to keep up on cleaning their quarters. The only thing I can think of is that we've had bears around here (but only for the past week) and that their coop is behind some buildings so they are getting less light.

What do you think is wrong with them?

How old are they? Chicken molt 4 times or more before a year of age.

 

[Mountain Peeps]

How old are they? Chicken molt 4 times or more before a year of age.

They are two years