Is this a weird time to be molting?

[GGchick]

Hi, one of my 15-month-old Partridge Rocks is starting a hard molt. I'm in Kentucky and it's been very hot, so this seems like an odd time. She had a little juvenile molt last fall, never a hard molt. She became very broody about a week ago, so I put her in a crate and separated her for 1 1/2 days. Could this have stressed her and brought on a molt? Should I be worried she has something abnormal going on? She hasn't laid an egg (I don't think) since her broodiness started. Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Here are a couple of links on molting that I like. You might see something in them that helps you.

Mississippi State describes molting
http://msucares.com/poultry/management/poultry_feathers.html

Kansas State feather loss
http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/library/lvstk2/mf2308.pdf

It is possible that caused the molt. Stress can start one and a broody in a broody buster is certainly under stress.

I had a broody that raised chicks fairly late in the summer/early fall last year. I can't remember the exact months. She stayed with the chicks until they were about 9 weeks old and molted while raising them. She was over her molt and back to laying before my others molted.

Hope this helps a bit. Good luck!

 

[GGchick]

That's helpful, thank you! Although I'm a little worried now because my girl isn't molting in the "order" those articles say she should. She's sort of losing them all over!

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'd also check her for mites and lice. That can cause a problem.

 

[GGchick]

I did. I didn't see any evidence, but dusted all the girls with DE to be safe.