Light Sussex

[kt.]

After culling my previous hens of 4 years 6 weeks ago,  I have now purchased 4 Light Sussex at 22 weeks.  By the time I got them from the farm to the allotment,  there were two eggs in the cardboard box when I let the hens out. 

Also got two 3 week old chicks of the same breed.  These are currently living in my house for the next 4-5 weeks in a large plastic box with mesh over the top.  They will then live in the garden ( an old rabbit hutch & run) for a further 6 weeks prior to joining the others. 

Do Light Sussex moult very long?  (for when the time comes).  My blackrocks and white leghorns moulted for 3 months of the year!!!

[kt.]

[chickenmad]

They all vary from a partial moult to full moult. Depends on the individual. My Silver Sussex had 2 moults last year.

[sunloving]

My silvers are moulting now but are laying every other day anyway.
I think it helps to give them extra protein at moult this means they dont divert as much to making feathers. meal worms were on sale at morrisons for 1.80 per pot recently and very useful.
My light sussex on the other hand seems to go off lay for ages when she moults 3 weeks!

But they all layed all the way through winter which was ace!

x sunloving

[Alex133]

I have one Light Sussex and she tends to have one light moult a year in early autumn - she's a massive bird about 10 years old (we've had the last 5), never laid an egg but looks amazing.

[goodlife]

Moulting time length is generally nothing to do with breed. Mostly it all depends of the condition of the bird before and during the moult and available food and nutrients.
Moulting is most 'testing' time for chickens general well being and if the birds are not in their best condition when going to molt it is going to long long time for them to get over with it. And on top of that to able to produce all those new feathers they will need really good diet too..often extra source of protein is needed.
Now, individual birds breeding does make difference..ideally you would breed from the birds that are know to moult well....but then again it is difficult to say if it is the dna factor or bird being in optimum health.
Some years birds do only moult partially and others they look like after fox would have paid visit ::)
Gerally even with the 'best' moulters. the process will take weeks to complete and bird will stop laying altogether. During partial moult birds may still lay in reduced rate. Breeders generally prefer birds that will stop laying, get over they moult with lany lingering effect.