Is my new chicken molting?

[nuchickontheblock]

I am new to keeping chickens -have just bought 3 beautiful 8 month old Ameraucana pullets about 10 days ago. One started after a couple of days to have really messed up feathers on wings and tail - she seemed to be pecked on and I thought that was why, but she gave us 3 eggs in the first 5 days. The other two aren't laying at all. The past week she stopped laying and there are feathers all over the coop and outdoor pen. After reading some of the posts, seems like she must be molting from the stress of moving. Is that why she stopped laying? How often do chickens molt and how long does the molting process take? Any info would help. Thanks.

 

[TurkeyMountainChickens]

Welcome to chickens - they are addictive! And

Usually, they go through their first big molt around a year old, then molt yearly after that. However, moving may have caused her to molt early. How long it takes depends in large part on your bird. Some are quick to refeather, and others take months. You may be able to speed the process up by supplementing her diet with additional protein.

 

[Domestic_goddess]

Sounds like your dealing with a molt and they can molt for 4-6 months, sometimes less and will stop laying during that time and it will take several weeks after molting to start laying again!

 

[nuchickontheblock]

Thanks for the info . . .Yikes! this chicken business is a very steep learning curve!