molt?

[eastercreek]

If we purchased our hens as young chicks in March/April 2011...when can we expect their first molt? Is it very obvious that they are molting???for instance, do they lose so many feathers that it is noticeable? The reason I ask is because we have several that have similar feathers and it is hard to distingquish who's feathers are in the pen.

 

[Crippledturkey]

Yes it is possible, I have read that first years do not molt, but mine bought around the same time are molting right now. Thought the rooster was being rough with them, picked one up and she had hundreds of pin feathers in a small patch, so ya it is normal from others posts I have read on here about the subject. Good luck, hope they get their feathers in before it gets too cold, or we would have to buy them nifty little chicken sweaters lol.