Early molting?

[JustBabyMargo]

Hi! It’s starting to get colder and most of my (1 year and up) hens are either molting, molting soon, or done molting. But I’ve been noticing huge amounts of feathers in my polish coop too! They are only 7 months old but are losing feathers! I’ve seen them fall right off of their bodies! Are they just early molters? They have always been quick developers but I didn’t think they were going to be early for molting. We do have three (almost) 4 month old chicks in there with them but I’ve been seeing feather loss from my silvers (and I don’t have any silver polish chicks just white crested black and all black (crevecoeur). Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[JustBabyMargo]

What do you think @azygous ?

 

[azygous]

Not early molt. It's the final juvenile molt. It can be as heavy as an adult molt, but without the baldness.

When they are finished, they will be shiny, new, and exquisitely stunning. They will impress you to tears with their feathery finery.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Not early molt. It's the final juvenile molt. It can be as heavy as an adult molt, but without the baldness.

When they are finished, they will be shiny, new, and exquisitely stunning. They will impress you to tears with their feathery finery.

I have a couple birds going through this, & they do sometimes get bald areas that's full of pins.

 

[JustBabyMargo]

Not early molt. It's the final juvenile molt. It can be as heavy as an adult molt, but without the baldness.

When they are finished, they will be shiny, new, and exquisitely stunning. They will impress you to tears with their feathery finery.

Wow really!? I had no idea they go through a final juvenile molt at this age! I thought it ended before they start laying! Thank you!

 

[JustBabyMargo]

I have a couple birds going through this, & they do sometimes get bald areas that's full of pins.

Thank you for your help!

 

[JustBabyMargo]

I have another question. If I got my polishes in February is it expected that they will also molt then? Or will it be when it’s warm again?

 

[JustBabyMargo]

I have another question. If I got my polishes in February is it expected that they will also molt then? Or will it be when it’s warm again?

Could that also be why they have stopped laying? Or is that just because it’s getting colder?

 

[Crazy Maizie]

When did they start laying? Just wondering if my SweetPea will lay this season or wait until spring.
Usually when chickens molt they stop laying due to the energy needed to molt vs laying eggs.

 

[InterestingChickens]

Could that also be why they have stopped laying? Or is that just because it’s getting colder?

Less daylight hours are the most likely the reason for laying stopping. During this time they may very well go through a moult. I have had chickens moulting before they are a year old.