how can you tell if they are molting

[snowcone]

I have a couple of 1 1/2 yr olds with their combs laying down, is that a sign of molting or how can you tell besides not laying?

 

[ibpboo]

Molting is when they lose their feathers to get new ones. You will start to see more and more feathers on the ground, and you will notice they have no tail feathers, and eventually they look scraggly and missing a lot of feathers!

 

[WalkingWolf]

You should see some feathers laying around, and pin feathers on you chickens. Check underneath for pin feathers, it does not seem to affect the combs on my birds but you may want to increase your birds protein. I feed mine starter with layer pellets to increase the protein level and give oyster shell to make up for calcium loss. Birds whether parrots or chickens will pick their own feathers if they do not have enough calcium and protein in their diet.

 

[Happy Chooks]

When they look like this:

Here she is sporting her ONE tail feather:

 

[ibpboo]

and they look like this

 

[Lil_Miss_Farmer_Chick]

They are so beautiful in their own silly way.