Chickens losing LOTS of feathers

[Kale Chips]

Hi! So I have 8 chickens that are all 11-13 weeks old. Golden Comets, Silver Laced Wyandottes, and Speckled Sussex. In the past week I have noticed more and more feathers on the ground, to the point where there are feathers all over the yard and they are piling up in the run. I am concerned this isn't normal! I know chickens molt, but seeing as it is the middle of July I didn't think it was that. There are black, brown, and gold feathers, meaning ALL the chickens are losing them. It is mostly the fluffy rump feathers but many normal ones as well. They all look alert and have been eating and drinking as normal. It has been above 80*F for the past 2-3 weeks and they often pant and stay in the shade. They are clearly hot, so I have been bringing them ice water and monitoring behaviour. Could it just be the heat? Is it early molting? Are they stressed about something else? Do they have an illness?

Thanks for the help

 

[sfgwife]

They are gettin their adult feathers in and losin baby floofs most likely.

 

[martanos]

our hens lost some feathers in the winter they grew it nice back now in warmer weather...but one lady developed swollen belly that I am trying to cure

 

[coach723]

Yep, they are in their second juvenile molt, and looking like a feather explosion is common.
Here is good article on molting:
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/molting-what-is-it-and-how-to-help/

 

[Kale Chips]

Yep, they are in their second juvenile molt, and looking like a feather explosion is common.
Here is good article on molting:
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/molting-what-is-it-and-how-to-help/

Thank you so much! So there IS a second juvenile molt!!! Yay! Thanks for the info

 

[ronott1]

X2! Final Juvenal molt. They will be very pretty soon

 

[Caroline's Ladies]

Thank you so much! So there IS a second juvenile molt!!! Yay! Thanks for the info

I was wondering the same thing too!! I got my chicks from TSC the same time you did.

 

[ronott1]

I was wondering the same thing too!! I got my chicks from TSC the same time you did.

Some breeds to a big one then. Some go all the way to 22 weeks old or so.