Molting in Summer

[marceedee]

I have 4 BA hens in my flock. Two started molting in late July. Another started molting about 2 weeks ago. The hens were hatched April 2008. My other hens are started to molt now--year old BR and RIR.

I think it is normal for the hens to molt at different times, but I has expecting the hens to molt in September and October. We live in the far north about 200 miles from Canada, and the day lenght decreases staring in late July. Is it normal to molt in July and August?

 

[dawnchick]

I'm sure it is. Sure beats their molting in cold weather, in that climate!

 

[gamebirdsonly]

Most of mine have been molting for last month. I have couple crazy birds that start molting in december-jan.

 

[crtrlovr]

I had a bantam frizzle cochin hen that went into a very hard TOTAL BODY molt. I kid you not -- the only feathers she had on her body ANYWHERE were a few stiff outer wing feathers, maybe 3-4 spindly stiff shafted tail feather stubs, and a few on her head. Her neck, back, upper legs, torso, and belly were completely naked. This started last fall. I felt so sorry for her because she was this way for several months. I was starting to despair that she'd ever regain any feathers and had bought some fleece to make her some "dresses" for the upcoming cold months. about two months ago I noticed she had a few pin feathers coming in on her back. Suddenly, she sprouted pin feathers EVERYWHERE and within a week, was completely feathered out again. She's gorgeous now!