How cold is too cold during molt?

[alinas2010]

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

Oh my how sad!

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!

Good to hear your response because I do check on them every few hours since I work from home and I was feeling like I was crazy! I also watch them through a camera when their heaters are on.

Their run is partially wrapped and they’re actually pretty sheltered from wind. We had a 18f night last night but their coop stayed around 30-35 in their sleeping area with their two radiant heaters and dog house heater. So I think that was warm enough…if it was any lower than that I might’ve brought her and the other molting one (and now my sick one) inside for the night. They all stay in their coop in the mornings this week because it is so chilly and windy, but they’re also a bit spoiled at this point. And anyways that’s what it’s for, it’s their shelter and safe place, so that’s okay. At 10f mine get a large radiant heater in their coop (mainly at night)

 

[alinas2010]

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.

When getting future chickens, you can bet I will be the one choosing the breeds! These ladies showed up in my basement without my knowledge Anyways.

Yes, that is one thing I absolutely love about living here, a very small population and very little traffic. Life is slower here and I like that. This is the perfect place to snowmobile and enjoy the vast amounts of wildlife, I’m glad you got that experience. I’m always surprised when people tell me they don’t have elk in their state, even though we’re probably the odd state for having them. I elk hunt almost every year and couldn’t imagine not. That hot spring sounds amazing, though! I’ve only been to the Thermopolis ones, although there are several in Wyoming. But I get very sick almost every time I’ve been, idk what it is, but viruses must love the hot springs.

This is going to sound weird but how many digits should license plates have? I guess I never noticed other states have more?

 

[Apis mellifera]

For your future flocks, besides the Jaerhon, I can recommend Orloffs, Chanteclers and most of the breeds developed in New England.

Chanteclers 100%

 

[alinas2010]

Chanteclers 100%
View attachment 3992865

Pretty!

 

[Apis mellifera]

Pretty!

Thank you. With no combs or wattles and a thick layer of feathers Chanteclers are a great dual purpose cold weather bird.

 

[alinas2010]

Thank you. With no combs or wattles and a thick layer of feathers Chanteclers are a great dual purpose cold weather bird.

Yes! They’re so cute without wattles and combs. Like a pullet grew into a chicken but forgot the wattles and comb!

 

[CrystalAnon]

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?View attachment 3988880View attachment 3988882View attachment 3988883View attachment 3988887

Awe!! I have the same going on, but likely not as cold. We’re in Florida. But it’s going to be 35 degrees overnight & my Xena is going through a FULL molt. Last chicken to molt of my flock. She was the champion layer while all my other chickens were working on molting. She has SO many missing feathers on so many parts of her body. And she is my smaller breed. She does not hold heat like our thicker/larger breeds.
I can’t stand it. She was shivering & it’s not even cold yet! Brought her in for tonight. Gonna give her scrambled eggs & get her back on the roost before sunrise.

 

[alinas2010]

Awe!! I have the same going on, but likely not as cold. We’re in Florida. But it’s going to be 35 degrees overnight & my Xena is going through a FULL molt. Last chicken to molt of my flock. She was the champion layer while all my other chickens were working on molting. She has SO many missing feathers on so many parts of her body. And she is my smaller breed. She does not hold heat like our thicker/larger breeds.
I can’t stand it. She was shivering & it’s not even cold yet! Brought her in for tonight. Gonna give her scrambled eggs & get her back on the roost before sunrise.

Aww poor Xena! I just hate molt! Don’t blame you one bit for bringing her inside, Id have no problem doing the same. Luckily it warmed up a bit here the past few nights but the next few look bitter again. People always talk about how tough they are but without their feathers I really don’t think they hold much heat. It will be over soon, hang in there!