Winter moulting

[lauren212]

I live in northern Ontario. I went on vacation for a week and kept my chickens inside the coop instead of letting them out in the pen. When I was gone it was the mildest week ever. About 5 degrees Celsius. Normally it's -20 here or colder. I noticed that they are loosing a lot of feathers now...ones head has lost a ton of feathers. I have 5 chickens and they are about 10 months old. It's like a chicken exploded and feathers are everywhere. I have no heat in my coop or additional light. Is this normal and will I have to add heat if they loose too many feathers?

 

[Happy Chooks]

At 10 months old, I doubt they would go through a molt severe enough to have to worry about them not being able to keep warm. When my birds under a year old molt, it's generally a quick, light molt.

 

[aart]

I've got a few pretty raggedy looking 10 month olds molting now...mostly necks and tails.
I don't heat either, they should be fine.
Give em some extra animal protein to help grow feathers out faster.
They may act a bit lethargic and want to stay away from the other birds,
those new feathers coming in are 'uncomfortable'.

 

[lauren212]

What kind of food do you give. I'm currently feeding 16.5% organic layer mash. I was fermenting it in the summer but I stopped. Maybe I should start again?

Pic of sad looking chicken.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Increase the protein more. Either by a feed with higher protein, or supplement with meat scraps, mealworms, etc. They need the protein to grow in feathers.