For the new folks that haven't experienced a molt yet.

[RedheadErin]

So what triggers the molt? Is it the age or the time of year or what? How long does it last? Do they all molt at the same time?

 

[stormylady]

It seems like most of my Older girls all went through a hard molt this year, Just recently , all the younger 4-6 month olds went through a much lighter molt. Thankfully their all just about done for the year. I hope ! It looked like Somebody had a pillow fight in the yard for weeks on end for a while there!

 

[bobbieschicks]

Chickens do go through a juvenile molt - they loose their "baby" feathers several times before the reach the age where they will molt as adults.

 

[bobbieschicks]

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Love it! Great idea!

 

[bobbieschicks]

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Looking good!

 

[Happy Chooks]

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Roughly 3 months.

 

[centrarchid]

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Roughly 3 months.

If wild-type molt pattern, then add 3 months on front end and that only involves flight feathers of wings.

 

[juliaronan]

Thanks for posting! I would have freaked if I had seen this and not seen these pictures!! I will probably still freak when I see it for the first time and be posting pics on here of "what's wrong with my chicken"!!

 

[audrey02026]

Is it possible to have a molt and still have them laying eggs? I have two chickens that are loosing their feathers on their back in front of their tail feathers but I'm still getting eggs everyday. I thought somehow maybe something got to them but I have another that looks like it may be starting to loose feathers too.

 

[centrarchid]

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Yes, my free-range birds getting their fill on bugs and choice plant materials can do it. Same birds on layer pellets cannot.