Winter molting-

[HenriettaPizzaNolan]

Ugh best of luck with your girl! I actually found this thread because I searched "winter molt". My poor EE (who is also one of two hens I have who lay in the dead of winter! ) began a pretty hard molt last week.

Like others have said, protein is key. Regular layer feed is lower in protein. Some things I like to supplement with are dry or wet (must be pate or something with high meat content and no gravy) cat food, canned fish like tuna, mackerel, or sardines, and mealworms.

 

[Marti5]

My girl that was sick got better and is all good. But now she’s “decided” to molt, and it’s been in the 20’s. Gonna get to sub temps at night in a couple days. There’s four girls and they keep each other warm in a very well insulated coop. But I’m thinking I should hang a bulb just for some added warmth. They also have a small heat source under their waterer that creates a little warmth. Actually, “molting girl” is starting to get some new quills but also has a couple bare places still.
QUESTION: Do you think it’s necessary to hang a bulb? I think a heat lamp will over do it. But if a light bulb doesn’t put off enough heat (coop interior is approximately 4x4 and 5 high) they are only in there at night, then free range, if they want, during the day, my other option would be the heat lamp.
The construction of my larger coop had to halt this past fall. Thanks.

 

[Themellowyellows]

My girl that was sick got better and is all good. But now she’s “decided” to molt, and it’s been in the 20’s. Gonna get to sub temps at night in a couple days. There’s four girls and they keep each other warm in a very well insulated coop. But I’m thinking I should hang a bulb just for some added warmth. They also have a small heat source under their waterer that creates a little warmth. Actually, “molting girl” is starting to get some new quills but also has a couple bare places still.
QUESTION: Do you think it’s necessary to hang a bulb? I think a heat lamp will over do it. But if a light bulb doesn’t put off enough heat (coop interior is approximately 4x4 and 5 high) they are only in there at night, then free range, if they want, during the day, my other option would be the heat lamp.
The construction of my larger coop had to halt this past fall. Thanks.

Pleasa no heat lamps, it is such a big risk of starting fires. I think it depends on how bright your light bulb is but how are they going to sleep with it on?

 

[Marti5]

Pleasa no heat lamps, it is such a big risk of starting fires. I think it depends on how bright your light bulb is but how are they going to sleep with it on?

It got down to -2 and I didn’t put in any lights or additional heat. I just closed off most of their door but left some ventilation at the top. There’s four and they did ok. Several more days of not getting above 25 during the day but sunny. The nights are still around 10 degrees. AND, lo and behold, one of my gals layed an egg last night!!! She dug a hole in the deep bedding and there it was. What on earth?! Wonders never cease.

 

[Marti5]

It got down to -2 and I didn’t put in any lights or additional heat. I just closed off most of their door but left some ventilation at the top. There’s four and they did ok. Several more days of not getting above 25 during the day but sunny. The nights are still around 10 degrees. AND, lo and behold, one of my gals layed an egg last night!!! She dug a hole in the deep bedding and there it was. What on earth?! Wonders never cease.

Oh, and my molting girl is still kinda wimpy. Doesn’t want to wander around like the others (I don’t blame her with it below freezing out there during the day). She is getting her feathers tho, slowly. I feed her separately and I’ve upper their protein all around. Maybe that’s why the egg .

 

[Themellowyellows]

It got down to -2 and I didn’t put in any lights or additional heat. I just closed off most of their door but left some ventilation at the top. There’s four and they did ok. Several more days of not getting above 25 during the day but sunny. The nights are still around 10 degrees. AND, lo and behold, one of my gals layed an egg last night!!! She dug a hole in the deep bedding and there it was. What on earth?! Wonders never cease.

Oh wow! Thats lovely. Of course the weather is not as lovely.