Why don't my chickens molt?

[cheyfrie26]

I have different breeds of ducks and chickens. Why don't they ever molt?

 

[jimmy47]

They won't molt if you keep lights on. Length of day light is what triggers them to molt in the fall. If you don't use lights, dunno.

 

[cheyfrie26]

I don't have lights. I just let them run during the day and go to roost when ever they want.

 

[ranchhand]

How old are they? Makes a big difference!

When mine, mostly older hens now, molt, it looks like a pillow factory exploded. The younger ones don't really molt much, more like shedding lightly.

ETA, the first BIG molt usually happens at about 18 months.

 

[cheyfrie26]

I have birds from just born to 4-5 years old. They never evvvveeerrr molt. I will notice a few tail feathers gone here and there but thats about it.

 

[ThePolishPrincess]

Different birds can also molt...well...differently. I have a few that I see every year drop their feathers like they're on fire, bald. Then over the next few weeks they just grow them all back at once. I also have others who I will never actually 'notice' molting unless I pick them up and physically check for new feather growth. If normal hours of light and dark are given, all birds should molt.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

I agree with ThePolishPrincess.

I have around 700 here now and some are bald for a while and some just shed a feather here or there and grow in new ones. Very private. Mine are fed the same so it has to do with the birds.

 

[PepsNick]

Yep, age! I think that most molts before 18 months old are small and pretty un-noticeable. Usually, egg laying doesn't stop with those. Maybe a bird has never had a large molt, but I think that they have all molted somewhat in their lives.