Does this look typical molting?

[capebird]

A number of my hens have lost feathers on the belly and the skin is quite red. Is this
typical for molting … or could there be some other issue.
Thanks

please click on photo bucket link below for picture
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg198/bocode/molt--_zpsb3040688.jpg

 

[JanetS]

How old are they? Chickens are usually around 18 months when they molt.

 

[aart]

One of my hens has red skin showing like that on her butt, the rest of her doesn't look like she's molting.

 

[capebird]

thanks for the replies. The chickens are not that old…. maybe 6 months old. It seems early for them to be molting. Which is why i'm wondering if this is something going on. There is also an older hen in the group that also seems to have the bare belly and red skin…. but she is also loosing feathers in other areas and is also almost 2 years old. So she I would think is molting.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
thanks!!

 

[BrickWall Honey]

Check them for mites

 

[capebird]

how do you check for mites? Not sure how to do that…. thanks

 

[4 the Birds]

How old are they? Chickens are usually around 18 months when they molt.

+1

Not molting so may be some other issue. What type of bedding do you use and do you add any type of insecticide dust?

 

[capebird]

The coop floor is sand. The nesting boxes contain pine wood chips. I'll inspect the birds a bit more
carefully and see if I can detect any type of mites or fleas or the like. I'll clean out the nest boxes and
wipe them down with bleach solution and replace the wood chips. I was thinking of spreading some diatomaceous
earth in the nest boxes… does that sound like it might help?
Thanks