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!