Do 26 week old chickens molt now?

[Lisa202]

This past week, I've noticed a lot of feathers in the run. I mean, so much that I expect to see some nakedness going on. The feathers are all from different chickens, so it's not like only one is losing them. I don't see a big difference in their appearance expect maybe some thinning bottoms around their fluffy butts, but that is all.

The only thing I have done different is that I just put 2 dust bath containers in the run with peat moss and DE and they seem to be in them all the time...it's their favorite thing to do. I noticed the others picking the dirt off each other a lot when they come out of the bust bath, so I am thinking that they are being a bit too pecky?

Could they be molting (I'm still getting eggs) or are they doing this to each other?

 

[centrarchid]

At 26 weeks birds could be entering their first full adult featther set. Some times pullets will lay before process complete. Feathers of wings and tail should still be in processed of being replaced if maturation similar to my birds.