Will they molt their first year?

[cherylcohen]

My girls are 17, 22 and 25 weeks. Will they molt this first year? We're in Northern California.

Do they only molt in Sept/Oct?

 

[eggsrcool]

I think they will moult next year- they would have only had their feathers for about 20 weeks, so wont waste energy into moulting.

ETA- They may moult next year around this time- they will probably be good layers, so will moult later on, and much faster. The better the layer, the faster and later the moult.

 

[cherylcohen]

Since only the eldest is currently laying (I'm waiting very impatiently) I guess it makes sense that they would wait

 

[tellynpeep]

My girls who are now about 17 mo old (they started laying last Dec) are just now having their first moult. So no, I don't think most hens will moult their first year.