Northern Henster
In the Brooder
- Sep 5, 2023
- 1
- 2
- 14
I'm in Ontario, Canada, and for the past month or two, winter has been in full swing - nighttime lows of between -15C (5F) and -25C (-13F). The coop cools down to around -5C (23F) at night, but it's typically colder than that during the day (both inside and outside). There's also usually a very cold wind (outside).
The chickens are just under 2 years old (will be 2 in May). They didn't moult the first winter. In summer, two of them moulted after being broody (for the full incubation period). In early fall, a few may have moulted as well, but it wasn't too dramatic.
In the past few months, at least 4 are moulting. One (Rhode Island Red / Columbian cross) was rather naked around Christmas, but grew her feathers before it got too cold. One (Black sex link) is almost done, but still not fully happy - her feathers are back, but her comb is still pale. And now both Barred Rocks are in a desperate state of undress; I can see their pink bottoms when they are walking around.
My questions are:
1. Are they supposed to do that? Everything I've read said that they're supposed to moult in late fall, to get ready for winter. Well, they're late! This is the worst time to do it.
2. Do they moult in 12-month cycles? Am I to expect these same hens to do it again in the dead of next winter?
Breeds: a fairly even mix of RIR/Columbian, Barred Rock, Black sex link, ISA Brown, White Leghorn. One of the ISA's might be moulting (I'm not sure). The Leghorns moulted in the fall.
Feed: dry Layer feed is always available. Soaked Grower is brought a few times a day, as well as warm water. Some kitchen food/treats (herbs, vegetables, pork fat, cooked pasta, raw fish occasionally).
Light: No artificial light, but the coop has large windows, and their outdoor area has a transparent roof. Last year, their egg production hardly dropped at all. This year it's down 50%.
The chickens are just under 2 years old (will be 2 in May). They didn't moult the first winter. In summer, two of them moulted after being broody (for the full incubation period). In early fall, a few may have moulted as well, but it wasn't too dramatic.
In the past few months, at least 4 are moulting. One (Rhode Island Red / Columbian cross) was rather naked around Christmas, but grew her feathers before it got too cold. One (Black sex link) is almost done, but still not fully happy - her feathers are back, but her comb is still pale. And now both Barred Rocks are in a desperate state of undress; I can see their pink bottoms when they are walking around.
My questions are:
1. Are they supposed to do that? Everything I've read said that they're supposed to moult in late fall, to get ready for winter. Well, they're late! This is the worst time to do it.
2. Do they moult in 12-month cycles? Am I to expect these same hens to do it again in the dead of next winter?
Breeds: a fairly even mix of RIR/Columbian, Barred Rock, Black sex link, ISA Brown, White Leghorn. One of the ISA's might be moulting (I'm not sure). The Leghorns moulted in the fall.
Feed: dry Layer feed is always available. Soaked Grower is brought a few times a day, as well as warm water. Some kitchen food/treats (herbs, vegetables, pork fat, cooked pasta, raw fish occasionally).
Light: No artificial light, but the coop has large windows, and their outdoor area has a transparent roof. Last year, their egg production hardly dropped at all. This year it's down 50%.
