How to Know Who’s Molting?

[aart]

Those feathers all have parasite damage

That's a rather extreme conclusion.

The sunlight here has an orange haze to it, too.

Are you near any fires?
Not only are the daylight hours shortening, the angle of the sunlight is lower....
...and the humidity here sometimes makes it even dimmer.
I'm seeing some feathers too, from several birds, and egg production is down.
Here comes winter!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

That's a rather extreme conclusion.

Yes, sorry I agree... that is why the rest of my statement says it COULD be wear and tear... and asked for further information.

Those feathers all have parasite damage... could be wear and tear as noted by molting age.

 

[micstrachan]

Are you near any fires?
Not only are the daylight hours shortening, the angle of the sunlight is lower....
...and the humidity here sometimes makes it even dimmer.

We are not near fires at the moment, but the air quality was poor for a few days. It’s only my third year of keeping chickens, so I’m still getting a feel for what’s normal for my girls. Last year my Barred Rock had the longest slowest molt of all time. Though she’s dropped a few feathers recently, there are no visible pin feathers or bald spots and her comb is nice and red. She hasn’t laid in months. I’d be fine with her never producing an egg again, as long as she isn’t laying internally.
What do you think about the fact that my Black Australorp has never had an obvious molt and has never stopped laying? Some of her feathers have sections that only have shafts left. Her head and neck feathers look shiny and new, so she is renewing feathers, just super slowly.
I think I should start keeping a journal to get a feel for what’s normal for my flock. Oh, and I didn’t get any new chicks this year, so my flock is in their second and third laying cycles.

 

[coach723]

I also keep a general journal, time can fly by and it's often difficult to remember exactly when something started, or how long it went on. I don't go into minute details in mine, but put in enough information on symptoms, treatments, concerns, etc that reviewing it can remind me of sometimes important details. There are times when it has been very helpful.

 

[aart]

What do you think about the fact that my Black Australorp has never had an obvious molt and has never stopped laying? Some of her feathers have sections that only have shafts left. Her head and neck feathers look shiny and new, so she is renewing feathers, just super slowly.

I've read that some can keep laying during a soft molt.
I do not keep molting notes, tho I've got some pics of hard molters.
..and have had some weird molts due to using lights in winter.