Winter chicks/molting/eggs?

[Jster]

(I've been reading here for months, we finally got chicks about 5 weeks ago that were about three weeks old, and this is my very first post! Glad to join BYC!)

We are raising pullets in what seems the off season, but we're in Florida and they are perfectly happy and warm here

I was wondering what we can expect in terms of molting? How old will they be, do Southern chooks molt, will they just wait til next year, will it interfere with egg laying, etc?

Thanks!

 

[Tuffoldhen]

All chickens molt, some harder than others...they molt once a year...you have young chicks so they shouldn't have a heavy molt til they are over a year old...(young birds or teenagers just lose a few juvenile feathers)...and yes when they are older it will stop them from egg laying for a few weeks or months....they put all their energy into new feather growth and not eggs....

 

[Smitty's Farm]

Welcome to BYC!

Where in Fla do you live? I grew up in NW Fla.