7 month Chicken molt?

[sean_wonder]

My chickens are 7 months, nearly eight months old, but all of a sudden they're loosing feathers left and right! The entire coop is covered, as well as every part of the run. Shouldn't they not be molting until 16 months? They're on 18% protein unmedicated feed.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Some do molt at that age. It may or may not be a full body molt. Sometimes they just replace some body feathers to thicken up and refresh the coat. If wings and tail are replaced it's a full molt.

 

[centrarchid]

Some of the slower maturing largish to larger breeds will still be swapping out tail and wing feathers as they come into adult feathers. The replacement pattern generally does not leave a lot of feathers laying around. Can you show a picture of how the birds look know?

 

[aart]

Could be the last juvenile molt coming a bit late.

 

[Happy Chooks]

I have had 8 and 9 month old birds molt. It's usually not a hard molt, but enough to disrupt laying.

 

[aart]

Had they been laying yet?
Might help to know your location.

 

[sean_wonder]

Yes they've been laying, they are Easter Egger x Silkie crosses. There is no visible bald patches. When are the juvenile molts?

 

[aart]

When are the juvenile molts?

Usually 3 molts between hatch and about 6 months.
I doubt a juvenile molt would happen after onset of lay.
How many of them are there in the coop with feathers?
Any older or younger birds in there?

 

[sean_wonder]

No, they are all from the same shipment. There are 7 of them, all same age. If it's a juvenile molt, they've only had 2 juvenile molts including this one. They've all laid at least once.

 

[aart]

.... they've only had 2 juvenile molts including this one.

Did you include losing their down and getting first feathers?