How cold is too cold during molt?

[alinas2010]

My French Fry is having a rough time molting and much later than last year. Their run is in the shade and I’ve seen her shiver a lot but otherwise she does normal chicken stuff. It’s been windy, but she has access to her coop during the day. She stays in there until late morning (with everyone else), but then is out most of the day. Temps hang around 40s-50sf during the day and 20s-30s at night. Going to be in the 30s next week tho with snow. I have been giving them heat during the night and mornings via the flat radiant heaters and at night I add a small dog house heater if it gets under 25 only bc they’re molting.

Should I worry she is shivering? I don’t have great pictures, I feel like she looks worse in person, but here she is. She’s only been this bare about 2 days. She still shakes and loses SO many feathers. Will she stay in her coop if she’s cold enough, or follow her flock and get too cold outside?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I know it is cold there and she's a bit bald, but I wouldn't worry too much. She'll recover soon. I would be tempted to enhance her amino acid intake by giving her some canned mackerel every couple days.
I once raised Jaerhons. They are a Norwegian breed that handles both heat and cold admirably. I know Wyoming is way colder than here normally but It has gotten as low as 19 below zero one night so it isn't mild by any means. Those hens always molted in January. I think that was their way of saying, "You call this cold?"
A suggestion is one of those saddles people use to keep roosters' breeding from making the hens bald.

 

[alinas2010]

I know it is cold there and she's a bit bald, but I wouldn't worry too much. She'll recover soon. I would be tempted to enhance her amino acid intake by giving her some canned mackerel every couple days.
I once raised Jaerhons. They are a Norwegian breed that handles both heat and cold admirably. I know Wyoming is way colder than here normally but It has gotten as low as 19 below zero one night so it isn't mild by any means. Those hens always molted in January. I think that was their way of saying, "You call this cold?"
A suggestion is one of those saddles people use to keep roosters' breeding from making the hens bald.

Thanks for replying and the suggestions. I had to look that breed up, I’ve never heard of them. Good looking chickens! I cannot believe they would molt in January! I had one molt this summer due to an illness and right about now I’m wishing they all would molt during the summer. I’m still waiting on one hen and the colder it gets the more miserable I know she (and I!) will be.

You know, I think I will pick up some canned mackerel today for them, they don’t eat much during molt and I know that’s important for body heat. We’ve been doing some scrambled eggs, but fish will be better.

We’ve never used to provide heat and I know it does them more disservice than anything, but they’re my pets and I love them. I have the ability to give them heat and back up plans for when the power goes out in winter if they’re accustomed to it, so I personally dont have a problem giving my chickens a little heat during molt especially. We’ve had -30s and -40s this past year and it was miserable. They would’ve definitely been inside with us if it weren’t for their big radiant heater, it kept their coop at 20f during those temps; just perfect for them to be okay. I’m rambling now, sorry idk where I was going with this…

I guess I was just going to say I know they’re so much tougher than I think they are, I just hate seeing them shiver bc I know I hate shivering. I think I wanted reassurance more than anything that I shouldn’t be providing more heat for her, thank you!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Wyoming always comes to mind when I think about the coldest places I've ever been. I spent some time from Christmas to New Years in Jackson Hole with my pregnant wife.
The reason I recommended the saddle is that it covers the bare area which would help hold body heat in.
For your future flocks, besides the Jaerhon, I can recommend Orloffs, Chanteclers and most of the breeds developed in New England.

 

[alinas2010]

Wyoming always comes to mind when I think about the coldest places I've ever been. I spent some time from Christmas to New Years in Jackson Hole with my pregnant wife.
The reason I recommended the saddle is that it covers the bare area which would help hold body heat in.
For your future flocks, besides the Jaerhon, I can recommend Orloffs, Chanteclers and most of the breeds developed in New England.

Orloffs are another breed I really don’t know much about, I had to look them up. I would love those, they’re beautiful! Once I’m ready for more chickens I will definitely consider those, thank you! You know, for living in Wyoming, I’ve actually never been to Jackson. I’ve heard it’s beautiful, though, I’ll have to go one day.

I do have a hen saddle, do you think it would irritate the pin feathers coming in? I know they’re so sensitive. She’s getting more bald and shivery as the temps drop and the winds pick up.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Orloffs are another breed I really don’t know much about, I had to look them up. I would love those, they’re beautiful! Once I’m ready for more chickens I will definitely consider those, thank you! You know, for living in Wyoming, I’ve actually never been to Jackson. I’ve heard it’s beautiful, though, I’ll have to go one day.

I do have a hen saddle, do you think it would irritate the pin feathers coming in? I know they’re so sensitive. She’s getting more bald and shivery as the temps drop and the winds pick up.

Those were just the first breeds that came to mind thinking of cold hardiness. When people think about raising chickens, they should always choose from a list of breeds adaptable to their climate. That will always make keeping them more carefree.
Maybe you could use something like a cotton mat under the saddle to shield the new growth. Or just put it on her at night.
Other than cold, the other impression I had of Wyoming is how sparsely populated it is. Making a pit stop in either Cheyenne or Laramie, I noticed all the license plates seemed to have only 3, 4 or 5 digits.
Besides skiing 'The Big One' (Jackson Hole), we took horse drawn wagons into the elk refuge among the elk and bison. But, other than the great skiing, a highlight was snowmobiling to a granite hot spring at the end of a box canyon. If you get there in winter, you should check it out. The forest service created a large natural pool at the spring. There are both a hot and a cold spring feeding the pool. In winter the cold one freezes so the water is hotter in winter. Most people swim in the pool but purists walk down stream and sit in the steamy water flowing downhill.

 

[SmiYa0126]

If you don't have a big sudden freeze she should be ok, however I've read that a molting hen froze to death when there was a sudden severe drop in temperature

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

someone may have already stated the importance of checking on the chooks a little more during cold season & know the signs of a too cold hen. If the hens are too cold, they will let you know. Maybe offer a little protein packed morsel and wind block favorite areas. molting in cold weather means they will probably do it again the following year. To make it more comfortable: Wind blocks, wind blocks, wind blocks and places to be standiffish and shy with some straw on ground. 10 degrees outside gets the girls a warmed breakfast with oatmeal which helps get their little wheels turnin’. If i had a hen start shivering, into the basement with warmth for the feet (hot water bottle) & warm scrambled egg for sure! Havnt had it happen As of yesterday we are rockin’ the ‘half wrap’ at 45-55 degrees. The hens and mother nature dictated.(molting). we’ll go full wrap Once we’re at 10degrees. Third year, so far so effective. Good luck!

 

[ChicNmom]

Can you put up a wind break in the run?

We have plastic panels we gradually put on our run for winter. We start with the coldest side of the run which is the back side. It's enough to keep the cold wind from blowing through. I have a few that molted late.

 

[alinas2010]

Can you put up a wind break in the run?

We have plastic panels we gradually put on our run for winter. We start with the coldest side of the run which is the back side. It's enough to keep the cold wind from blowing through. I have a few that molted late.

So actually, we do have two sides of the run wrapped - one is only partially wrapped, but that side is guarded by our house/concrete wall/fence. A third side is smacked up against the neighboring garage, the other is blocked by the coop for the most part and the whole set up is actually situated right between our house/concrete wall and the neighboring property’s garage, (which we also own). Only partially covered, though, bc it’s chainlink. They’re actually pretty protected compared to out in the yard, I just think it’s the windchill maybe? And it’s nonstop windy this week. Here are pictures for reference, all old pics, but everything is still basically the same as far as the run goes.