Or is it moult?
I dunno.
What I do know is that finding a huge pile of feathers
in the yard or in the chicken house
sets me back a bit.
Until I see this prancing around...
and then I know it 'tis the season.
Chickens shed their feathers usually once a year or so.
The Buff Orpington is showing her porcupine look as her new feathers are growing in,
while the normally very big white Brahma is sporting the naked look.
In a setting where chickens see the light of day,
molting is triggered by the shortening of daylight.
Egg laying slows or stops at this time.
Fall is the season and we are in full tilt molt here.
In commercial chicken horror factories
where there is no real daylight,
molts are "forced" by withdrawing feed.
Starving the birds to
force the molt to then encourage the laying to begin again.
Those poor birdies.
I can't imagine how they survive that.
I find it necessary to add protein to my flock's diet during a molt.
I have had more than a few chickens so weak
from the demands on their bodies to
keep themselves warm while semi naked
AND
produce new feathers
they were drunk-like,
bobbing and weaving around.
molted mid-winter each year.
We were amazed when she made it through the winter.
Posts
-isn't funny how our animals teach us. I'm sure they would say "thanks for listening".
ReplyDeleteFly
Thank you for your information. I am new to raising chickens, and this is my first real molt that my chooks are going through. One hen in particular, having a harder time and looking and acting worse than the others, and I was getting worried. Feel better now that I know what they're going through is normal. Thanks a bunch.
ReplyDeleteIf they are laying eggs try hard boiling the eggs and smashing them up up shells and all and feeding back to them for more protein. Some people feed cat food. They need protein if they are swaying and bobbing around acting drunk, they are really weak. Email me if you want any more information, I'm happy to tell you what I know. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteWe didn't know what was happening to our flock of leghorns, three girls in all. We sent them to friends for vacation during Thanksgiving and they have come back all naked and ugly!! And our friends barley got 3 eggs in over two weeks! Glad to see from the photos and your comments that they are going to be just fine! Thanks for your blog.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment! It's still a little unnerving for me to see naked chickens this time of year : ) i hope your girls give up some eggs soon!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad to find your post about chickens who molt in winter! Our sweet orpington has been laying for 1 yr now and has gone into super-molt mode. It' so cold here right now, she's spending alot of time in the shed to keep warm. Thanks for the info on protein diet. Anything to help her get through another winter. She did so well last year when it hit 0 degrees. I just hope she grows in her new feathers sooner than later!
ReplyDeleteNow that I have seen some of your pictures I'm assuming that my you barred Rock are molting they have been bare all winter feel so bad I thought it was the Banty Rooster being rough so have him in paper to give away, I had even went out and trimmed his spurs. Can it be hard cat food since have cat or do they need can food have givin them tuna also.
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU!!! They aren't quite a year old (April 4th) and two of them (Orpington and a Wyandotte) are naked in a couple of areas. They are still very active, seem content, and are laying eggs as well. Appreciate the information.
ReplyDelete