How do I know if molting or feather plucking?

[HewittHens]

Some of my hens are losing feathers on their necks and above their wings. Ive noticed some of them are getting a little feisty too. I read their behaviours can change while molting?
How do I know if its molt/stress/fighting/feather plucking?

 

[ngennetta]

Generally, if your birds are approaching a year and it's Fall time, it is almost certainly molt. Feather picking, from my experience, usually ends up in missing tailfeathers and bald/red spots. Another easy way to tell is they molt symmetrical, i.e. the same spot on both sides of their wings. Also, molting is a short term condition. Unless they look the same in a few weeks, I wouldn't worry too much