Molting at 8 months?

[Grey24]

This is my first backyard flock, so maybe I’m overreacting, but two of my 8 month old girls are doing what appears to be a mini-molt. One is a Black Star/Black Sex Link and the other is a Gold Star/Red Sex Link. The black one is about two or three weeks older than the other one, not that I think that makes a difference. Still, I’m just worried because everything I’ve read says that chickens can’t molt before a year old, and yet both of these two are losing feathers around their neck (the black one also has some lose feathers along her back I noticed). The black one still has pin feathers, and the gold one has absolutely no feathers at all around the affected area. I don’t think they’re stressed (although the gold one is the runt of the litter), and neither of them are bleeding which makes me think it’s not bullying or self-pecking… I’m just worried because it’s a few days after Christmas and it’s averaging less than 20 degree weather where I am. Is it mites or a pseudo molt? I feel like since I have a flock of six, then if it were mites than the other girls would have it too, right?

Hope this is a pretty good description of my dilemma, so please help!

 

[Liveove]

This is my first backyard flock, so maybe I’m overreacting, but two of my 8 month old girls are doing what appears to be a mini-molt. One is a Black Star/Black Sex Link and the other is a Gold Star/Red Sex Link. The black one is about two or three weeks older than the other one, not that I think that makes a difference. Still, I’m just worried because everything I’ve read says that chickens can’t molt before a year old, and yet both of these two are losing feathers around their neck (the black one also has some lose feathers along her back I noticed). The black one still has pin feathers, and the gold one has absolutely no feathers at all around the affected area. I don’t think they’re stressed (although the gold one is the runt of the litter), and neither of them are bleeding which makes me think it’s not bullying or self-pecking… I’m just worried because it’s a few days after Christmas and it’s averaging less than 20 degree weather where I am. Is it mites or a pseudo molt? I feel like since I have a flock of six, then if it were mites than the other girls would have it too, right?

Hope this is a pretty good description of my dilemma, so please help!

do you have pictures?

I’ve had chickens molt before a year old, though it’s hard to tell without visuals., You can also search the birds for mites, though i doubt that’s what your dealing with if you have such low temps. Mites don’t thrive in the cold and though not impossible, it’s unlikely that’s what your dealing w/

 

[Grey24]

do you have pictures?

I’ve had chickens molt before a year old, though it’s hard to tell without visuals., You can also search the birds for mites, though i doubt that’s what your dealing with if you have such low temps. Mites don’t thrive in the cold and though not impossible, it’s unlikely that’s what your dealing w/

 

[nuthatched]

I have an 8 month old that's also 'neck molting', I think it just happens.

 

[Liveove]

Looks like a molt alright

 

[junior67]

Mine are 8 mo old and I have had a couple that have done the neck and head molt. One of my 1 yr and 8 mo olds is doing the same thing. Here is one of the 8 mo olds today

 

[Grey24]

Okay, thank you!!!

 

[kanami]

i’m having a similar thing happen with two of my birds right now

 

[ChickenTenderz]

I'm having a similar thing happen with one of my Black Australorps. She's a few months shy on 1 yr but has lots of new feathers coming in on her neck. She must've been self conscious and stayed out of sight bc I just noticed today. To be fair, I haven't been able to collect eggs until after dark for about a week so I haven't had a good look at her until today.

We have 7 girls but only have been getting 2-3 eggs a day for a while now.