Could they be molting at this time of year?

[posey]

Hey ya'll.
I have 2 speckled sussex hens who are 1 year old. They did not molt last Fall.

We had lights on them most of the winter for heat.
They were good layers 6 days out of 7, small to medium sized eggs.

Both have stopped laying about 3 weeks ago.
They are NOT broody.
This week I have noticed way more than the normal amount of feathers in their coop and run.

Last evening, I looked them both over for evidence of poultry lice but found none.
They seem to have less feathers on their breasts than usual and the feathers that I find are small with the occasional tail or wing feather.
Poops seem normal and their vents look good.
Combs and wattles are bright red and look healthy. Eyes look normal and healthy.

Could this be a molt coming on?
I know it's not the correct time of year but since they 'worked' all winter could they go into a molt now?

Any thoughts would be helpful
Thanks much
Pos

 

[canada-goose]

It's possible. They're usually sour tempered and shrunken during a molt, though. Are they barking/clucking? They might be broody.

 

[posey]

Kooshie,
No, they are clucking and buck buck bucking just like normal.

They are certainly not broody. They don't even go in the nest box and are in and out of the coop all day and eating grass and other green stuff, looking for bugs - the usual.

My husband and I both think they look thinner. Both of these girls were big and broad but not now. They aren't emaciated either.

Any other toughts out there?

 

[canada-goose]

Well then, it's probably a molt.

 

[jeffro29]

mine layed all winter for us and they are molting, noisy and generally not very happy. They are doing much better now as the are almost through, thank goodness. It looks like a chicken massacre here with all the feathers everywhere. Good luck with yours