Is my rooster molting from the heat?

[FunnyBunny89]

Hi! I was wondering if I'm reading into this too much:

I got this roo about a month ago. He was all tattered up from other roosters at his previous home, and was missing a lot of tail and saddle feathers. They said he's about 1 year old.

I noticed for the past week or so, it appears that he's losing a lot of feathers across his body. And I can't say for sure but he almost looks thinner??? Maybe not, but does he look like he's thinning to you guys?

Is it normal for him to molt right now from the heat, or is he suffering from some kind of deficiency? The food he gets is all flock crumbles, and treats twice a day with a variety of seeds, corn, and dried bugs. They are free ranging for 12-14 hours a day in an orchard, and they occasionally get fruit like watermelon, plums, blueberries, and strawberries on really hot days. I feel like I'm doing everything right, and he is acting normal, but I know one of my hens is at the bottom of the pecking order and thus misses out on her protein needs; she looks similar to him in terms of bodyweight, and I'm worried he might also be lacking.

I just started supplementing with scrambled eggs once a week or so, and I've added more dried bugs to their treats.

 

[FunnyBunny89]

Here's how he looked when I got him.

 

[MysteryChicken]

I've got birds starting an early molt. Doubt it's due to heat since it's not that hot where I live currently.

 

[FunnyBunny89]

I've got birds starting an early molt. Doubt it's due to heat since it's not that hot where I live currently.

That's nice to hear. I noticed a couple hens are missing tail feathers too but they aren't being pecked, so it must be a molt... just seems like weird timing, relative to everything I have read.