Everyone molting?

[ChickKidsDad]

From the looks of all the feathers and no eggs for the last 3 days, I think everyone is molting. All 6 hens of my girls hatched in April, and their their poduction dropped about a month ago with the shorter days to 1-3 eggs per day. Is it ok that they molt in late November? Is it normal that the all molt at once? Or should I be looking for another problem? They seem happy... Thanks for your replies.

 

[Wynette]

My girls that were hatched in April of '07 did not molt their first year; they just finished molting recently. I do still have one that's getting new feathers in. I'd say of those 6, two started at almost exactly the same time, 1 the following week, 1 the week after, etc.

It does seem sort of odd that all 6 of your girls started at exactly the same time, and as I mentioned, mine never did molt their first year, but maybe I just got lucky.

Have you checked for parasites?

 

[ChickKidsDad]

I haven't looked for parasites, but my girls are spoiled. They spend the day in a tractor, with fresh water and food. I am using the deep litter method in the overnight coop, but I haven't seen any lice or tics. Any advice?