Feathers are everywhere!!!

[Live Oak Farms 01]

Our 12-13wk Red Star, BO, Cinnamon Queens seem to be losing way more feathers then usual. Their are feathers EVERYWHERE.
Could this be from heat??
Are they getting ready to lay? A friends starting laying at 4 months.
Whenever they fly, peck or roll in the dust, lots, I mean lots, of feathers are always left behind.
It doesnt seem to be a molt, it has been going on for a month.

Thanks!

 

[madamwlf]

Chicks do partial molts until they mature. I think I read they do one full molt then 3 partial molts before maturity. My juvies have feathers everywhere. So do my adults but they are going through their yearly molt.

 

[ranchhand]

Might want to check them for lice or mites, too. But most likely, they're just doing a teenage molt!

 

[Alethea]

It's probably their juvenile molt. Ours went on for months. I'm told chickens change all their feathers twice by the time they reach their adult size. If they don't have mites or lice and are otherwise acting normally, I wouldn't worry about it, just clean up the mess.

 

[Live Oak Farms 01]

Thanks, it has slowed down.

 

[RollinWithTheStones]

My guy and gals are also leaving feathers everywhere. I've been collecting them up and giving them to the chicks to play with.