Are they picking when I'm not looking?

[tootie]

I have noticed a recent increase in feathers in my coop and run. Do chickens loose feathers like people lose hair or could they be pulling each others feather out when I'm not looking?

 

[My chicken is cuter]

They're probably going through a molt. They shed their feathers about once a year and then grow them back. Are they laying eggs? Hens usually stop laying when they molt.

Hope this helped