OKay my girls are about a year and 3 months. They have all quit laying about a month ago except one chicken. I have been seeing feathers everywhere. I don't see bald spots like the pictures of everyone elses molting birds. Seems like recently the amount of feathers on the ground are getting less. Is it possible for them to molt with out getting bald spots. Would the fact I am not seeing as many feathers mean they are about to stop molting or is the fact I am not seeing bald spots mean they are slow molters. If they are slow molters is there anything that could be done to speed things along? Thanks, Michelle
It sounds like your birds may be slow molters, birds can either molt by dropping feathers in groups or they can drop them one at a time. Obviously, for egg production, you'd rather have them drop their feathers quickly so they get back in egg production. I just wrote a little bit about that on my blog if you're interested (http://www.betterhensandgardens.com/2011/11/09/molting-chickens/) but I don't know any way to make a slow molter become a fast molter.
My flock is about 1/2 and 1/2. Some drop a bunch of feathers at once, others go the slow and steady route.
