Why aren’t my hens molting?

[TheOddOneOut]

It’s October and my girls, who are at the age for their first real molt (18 months) and they haven’t dropped a feather. I feel it’s time, don’t you think?
They have scruffy, broken feathers they need to molt out. So why aren’t they?

 

[cavemanrich]

Chicken molt when they need to.. They do not follow a certain guideline, or date. The may start molting in November,,, and there are also possibilities of a hard molt, or a staggered soft molt. In my small flock,,, some have finished molting 2 months ago,, and some have not started yet. They may also wait until spring.
I am in similar weather stage as you are. Autumn is starting to show up. and winter is on its way.
Beautiful flock BTW, are 6 all hens??

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[TheOddOneOut]

Chicken molt when they need to.. They do not follow a certain guideline, or date. The may start molting in November,,, and there are also possibilities of a hard molt, or a staggered soft molt. In my small flock,,, some have finished molting 2 months ago,, and some have not started yet. They may also wait until spring.
I am in similar weather stage as you are. Autumn is starting to show up. and winter is on its way.
Beautiful flock BTW, are 6 all hens??

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

All girls. I’ve raised 10 store-bought chicks and not 1 was a rooster! 4 no longer reside here but I get to visit them.
They lay beautiful colors. I’ll be missing these eggs in the dead of winter.

 

[TheOddOneOut]

2 Dominiques, 1 Super Blue Egger, 1 unknown-cross EE, 1 Speckled Sussex and 1 Buff Orp.
The 4 who I raised but sold are a RIR, a Sapphire Gem, a EE, and a Barred Rock. They were all female too.

 

[cavemanrich]

I’ll be missing these eggs in the dead of winter.

Yes,,, I know they take a break,,,, a much deserved break ,,, But you can keep your extra eggs for a long time If you decide to refrigerate them. There is another option,,,,, if interested, and I can link thread for you.
Water glassing in lime.

 

[TheOddOneOut]

Yes,,, I know they take a break,,,, a much deserved break ,,, But you can keep your extra eggs for a long time If you decide to refrigerate them. There is another option,,,,, if interested, and I can link thread for you.
Water glassing in lime.

Yes, I’ll have to start popping some in the refrigerator!

 

[TheOddOneOut]

It’s definitely a well deserved break,
but we like our eggs! Lol

 

[TheOddOneOut]

My SS hen took the explosive method. On monday she hadn't lost a one. Now she's half-naked.

 

[cavemanrich]

Post some of those pix..
When my RIR molted this past spring,,, she looked like a Naked Neck. I still want a NN but none available near me. NN are great for hot climates,, as they tolerate HEAT better than other breeds.

 

[TheOddOneOut]