Jan
23
A couple of weeks ago, my hens started acting a little strange. Mainly, they were more skittish than usual. One morning before work, I spent about 45 minutes trying to coax them into their run. Normally, this is an easy process: pour feed in feeder and the chickens coming running. Instead, Peggy and Tina were acting really skittish and even a handful of carrot peels couldn't entice them inside. I was feeling really frustrated and couldn't understand this sudden change in behavior, until I looked inside the coop and run the next day and saw a giant pile of feathers. Peggy and Tina are molting.
According to Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens
, chickens molt about once a year. Usually, chickens begin the process in the late summer or early fall, when the days start to shorten. Peggy and Tina are a bit off schedule, but I'm not surprised considering that we don't have typical seasons here in Southern California. I just hope they're not too cold now that the weather has changed from 70-degree to 50 to 60-degree days.I find molting a bit gross, for some reason, but it's not too bad. The major downside is that hens don't lay eggs when they're molting. So, we haven't had any backyard eggs for the past several weeks. And we may have to wait quite a while longer, because Storey's Guide says they can molt for between 14 and 16 weeks! It kind of depends on the breed, though. So maybe my girls--an Easter Egger and Black Sex-Link--will be on the faster side.
I just hope they calm down a bit so I don't have to worry about letting them out of the coop in the morning before work. I like our routine, where they scratch around and sample some weeds in the yard while I tend to my garden. But if they won't go back in the run when I need them to, they may have to just stay inside during the week until the molt is over.
Interesting. Our hens haven't molted yet. But they're only just reaching 8 months old. And two of them have yet to even lay!
I love your coop! Did you design it yourself? We're looking to get chicks this spring and I've been searching for the perfect coop...yours is it! ;)
And your hens are beautiful!
I use the feathers from molting to make hair fascinators. I also add them to decorative displays, such as bouquets for added flair. Just make sure you don't use the ones with any fecal matter on them!
we are finally done with molting. and the girls are back to laying eggs. soooooo great to walk past the eggs at the store.
hope for a quick molt for your girls.