9 month old molt?

[MountainMomma359]

I have 4 girls. One is 2 years old and she is in a full on molt. The rest of the girls are only 9 months old- got them as days old chicks the last week of march. Today I noticed tons of feathers from one of my young girls in the coop and later in the run. I thought they didn't full on molt at this age, only their second winter? They have had all their adult feathers for a while so it isn't a juvenile molt.

 

[nuthatched]

I have a few born in may that are molting right now, it seem to be just a neck/wing molt but there's a lot of feathers out there.

 

[Rose the Legbar]

My 10 month olds started to molt, it was only their neck and tail feathers all dropped before coming in. But i’ve seen multiple pin feathers in their butt fluff and all over them. So I’d think that is is somewhat normal for the birds to so a “soft” molt in their first year.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I thought they didn't full on molt at this age, only their second winter? They have had all their adult feathers for a while so it isn't a juvenile molt.

Typically yes.. but they don't read our books about what they should or should not do.

Genetics, nutrition, lighting, and more can impact this.

It may not become a full blown molt.. but even mini molts can have them not laying. I've seen it happen in several birds around the 8-9 month age throughout the years. I was also surprised the first time I saw it.. and still very unimpressed by it, when that's the whole reason many of us add in new pullets each year is to make up for egg production lost to elder ladies molting.

I do agree that it is normal or at least can be, presuming other considerations (like parasites, nutrition, bullying, etc) are ruled out.

 

[MountainMomma359]

Typically yes.. but they don't read our books about what they should or should not do.

Genetics, nutrition, lighting, and more can impact this.

It may not become a full blown molt.. but even mini molts can have them not laying. I've seen it happen in several birds around the 8-9 month age throughout the years. I was also surprised the first time I saw it.. and still very unimpressed by it, when that's the whole reason many of us add in new pullets each year is to make up for egg production lost to elder ladies molting.

I do agree that it is normal or at least can be, presuming other considerations (like parasites, nutrition, bullying, etc) are ruled out.

We just got out of the cold snap that pretty much the entire US got. It was abnormally cold especially with the wind chill and now we are back up in the mid to upper 60s I did just treat them for roundworms so maybe a combo of things?
It's my first year with chickens, can the molt make them act different? They are more stand offish than usual. One of them is out right grumpy

 

[Auntiejessi3]

We just got out of the cold snap that pretty much the entire US got. It was abnormally cold especially with the wind chill and now we are back up in the mid to upper 60s I did just treat them for roundworms so maybe a combo of things?
It's my first year with chickens, can the molt make them act different? They are more stand offish than usual. One of them is out right grumpy

When they are growing feathers back it is a bit painful and uncomfortable, so they tend to steer clear of you, even my friendliest ladies don't like to be touched when they're molting

 

[EggSighted4Life]

can the molt make them act different? They are more stand offish than usual. One of them is out right grumpy

SO different! It can be alarming.. and even makes me worry some for every molting bird.

That difference was tremendously diminished when I learned about using (Purina) Flock Raiser with oyster shell on the side for active layers instead of "layer" feed. My ladies, even the head lap lady would become stand offish and avoidant.. as noted by the other poster.. pin feathers can be quite painful.

Despite being only about 2-5% digestible in their raw form, feathers are made from 90% protein and its amino acids. Layer feed is typically the bare minimum required nutrients to keep a light bodied bird like leghorn in lay. Dual purpose birds like Rock, Orpington, Marans, etc do better at 18-20% protein. While birds not in lay like molters, broody's, and juveniles, or roosters do not need the calcium offered in layer feed but can't avoid it. (long term *could* cause issues like gout, kidney failure, or death though there IS a genetic component to that) Since my flock is often mixed age and/or gender (and even species in the past).. I use flock raiser full time. It is pricier because protein is pricier. But the difference seen was well worth it.. TO me. Surprisingly since making the switch (several years ago).. the ladies (that do so regularly but didn't) NOW still come around and hang on my lap even during molt! Your mileage may vary.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I thought they didn't full on molt at this age, only their second winter?

That is a very common often repeated misconception on this forum. Some, not all but some, pullets skip the molt and continue laying their first winter. Some molt and don't lay during that first winter. Some don't molt but don't lay either their first winter. I've had pullets start laying the first week of December, during the shortest days of the year. Some do a full molt, some a partial. The more rules you make and the more rigid you are in setting those rules the more disappointed you are likely to be.

We can tell you what they often do. But any time someone tells you that every chicken on the planet always does this it's probably time to get a second opinion. Every broody behaves this way. No they don't. Every chicken roosts this way. No they don't. Every pullet or hen lays this way. No they don't. Most may behave a certain way but they are living animals, somebody can always come up with an exception.

It sounds like one of your pullets is molting. I don't know if the other two will or not.

 

[BuddingGardener]

One of my 9 month girls is also having a soft molt. I don't see any pin feathers but there's plenty of white feathers shed in the run area. I started my flock with 4 chicks hatched on April 6th, and only one is still laying through the winter (at a reduced rate). I figure they'll all get back on their laying when they're ready and the days get a bit longer.

 

[MountainMomma359]

My 10 month olds started to molt, it was only their neck and tail feathers all dropped before coming in. But i’ve seen multiple pin feathers in their butt fluff and all over them. So I’d think that is is somewhat normal for the birds to so a “soft”

SO different! It can be alarming.. and even makes me worry some for every molting bird.

That difference was tremendously diminished when I learned about using (Purina) Flock Raiser with oyster shell on the side for active layers instead of "layer" feed. My ladies, even the head lap lady would become stand offish and avoidant.. as noted by the other poster.. pin feathers can be quite painful.

Despite being only about 2-5% digestible in their raw form, feathers are made from 90% protein and its amino acids. Layer feed is typically the bare minimum required nutrients to keep a light bodied bird like leghorn in lay. Dual purpose birds like Rock, Orpington, Marans, etc do better at 18-20% protein. While birds not in lay like molters, broody's, and juveniles, or roosters do not need the calcium offered in layer feed but can't avoid it. (long term *could* cause issues like gout, kidney failure, or death though there IS a genetic component to that) Since my flock is often mixed age and/or gender (and even species in the past).. I use flock raiser full time. It is pricier because protein is pricier. But the difference seen was well worth it.. TO me. Surprisingly since making the switch (several years ago).. the ladies (that do so regularly but didn't) NOW still come around and hang on my lap even during molt! Your mileage may vary.

I'll have to check it out. I have upped their BOSS snacks and have been giving them meat leftovers.