Chickens molting to early? (PICS ADDED)

[coach723]

I also have had some young ones occasionally do a mini molt or very soft molt. The range of normal is pretty wide. Seems like everyone has birds at one time or another that don't read the manuals! If everything else seems normal, I would probably not worry too much. The only other thing I can think of is, since you mentioned head and neck feathers particularly, is if there is any fencing or anything else that they might be sticking their heads through, which might have caused some feather loss. It does sound like molt from your description, but just wanted to put that out there.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

I also have had some young ones occasionally do a mini molt or very soft molt. The range of normal is pretty wide. Seems like everyone has birds at one time or another that don't read the manuals! If everything else seems normal, I would probably not worry too much. The only other thing I can think of is, since you mentioned head and neck feathers particularly, is if there is any fencing or anything else that they might be sticking their heads through, which might have caused some feather loss. It does sound like molt from your description, but just wanted to put that out there.

Thanks, no, there is no fencing that they could get to to do that. I'm going to get pics now. I'm pretty sure it's a molt but.... .

 

[cluckmecoop7]

PICTURES!

 

[chrissynemetz]

I don't think you have anything to worry about. It's not uncommon for pullets that age to have a partial molt.
Right now I have around a dozen pullets going through a molt, mostly losing neck and head feathers. It's like a practice run for next year when they'll do a full molt

 

[cluckmecoop7]

Melody: (The one who is molting the most right now)

 

[cluckmecoop7]

I don't think you have anything to worry about. It's not uncommon for pullets that age to have a partial molt.
Right now I have around a dozen pullets going through a molt, mostly losing neck and head feathers. It's like a practice run for next year when they'll do a full molt

Thanks, that's good to know! Here is a pic of Blamo's chest. She is just finishing her molt.

 

[coach723]

Looks like molt to me! No matter what the books say, mother nature is the boss!

 

[cluckmecoop7]

Looks like molt to me! No matter what the books say, mother nature is the boss!

I'm glad! I like how you (or was it someone else?) said that chickens don't always read the manual! LOL

 

[Birdsong 82]

Just looks like a small molt to me. Looking pretty good getting their feathers back though

 

[CindyinSD]

A couple of my pullets are molting around the same as your photos. It’s a new thing for me. My hens didn’t molt this fall and I’ve noticed only one of them molting now, along with the young-uns. The rest are same as always though getting a bit ragged around the edges. I wish they would molt, since they’re not laying anyway (most of them) as I’m not supplementing light.

It didn’t even occur to me it might be a problem. I think they’re fine. They seem happy and lively. I’m just making sure they have plenty of protein to grow back feathers: BOSS and mealworms for treats. Their still-fluffy sisters are happy about that, too.