Is this a normal amount of feather loss?

[eggspletive!]

I've got five 3-month old hens and am noticing a lot of feathers on the ground and in the henhouse. Maybe a couple dozen, maybe a little more. I spend a lot of time observing them every day and I never see them pecking at each other. I can tell from the feathers that they're from all the birds, not just one, although one of them is shedding more than the others. Is this normal? If not, what might be causing it?

 

[3chimama]

I can't answer your question but I have noticed that my almost 4month old BRs are losing a lot of feathers too although they seem to be very healthy....

 

[Yay Chicks!]

Mine too. I'm guessing it's normal because I'm not seeing any bare spots on them at all.

 

[Finn's Mom]

And mine too. I keep looking for bald spots and there are none. It was about a 10-day to 2-week interval and then it slowed down.

 

[nuchickontheblock]

I just posted a similar question about normal vs molting feather loss on the behavior-egg post, as I assumed they weren't laying because they were molting. Now I wonder?? I'm new to chickens, so . . .??

 

[Yay Chicks!]

As I understand it, they molt toward fall when the days get shorter...and the feather loss looks more like you are growing a new bird

I am new to this as well, but despite the feathers on the ground, my birds look great.

 

[Boo-Boo's Mama]

Hoping someone with lots of experience will post. I have 22 girls and they surely are losing lots of feathers...they are not naked so I'm assuming it is a molt of some sort; they are 15/13/12 weeks old.

We had a pecking issue but I took the ones who were pecked out of the hutch so they were no longer in with those who must have been pecking since they had no loss of feathers or bare spots. Today they all went into the run/coop that is 21'x10'. Still have some who are separated in chicken tractor and a couple of hutches until they all get use to each other...we have several "Jello Sheriffs"!!

 

[MotherJean]

My 4 mo. old chicks are losing a lot of feathers too. It has to be normal. There's no bare spots and all are the picture of good health. Although I've had chickens for years and years, this is my first time raising hatchlings so some of this is new to me too.

 

[erin76]

I read in the 4-H book that chicks will grow 3 sets of feathers before they are adults....I have 13 week olds that are losing many feathers, and from what I gathered from the book, they must be getting the final set...

 

[3chimama]

That would make sense. Thanks for the info.
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