Molting in the spring?

[Chic Rustler]

Back in march i bought 10 red sex link hens that were 13 months old. They are good birds, lay everyday like clockwork. Now i notice a couple of them are starting to lose feathers on their backs and some wig feathers as well. It seems new feathers are coming in but im not 100% sure about that yet. Is this normal? Are they at the right age (15 months) and the right time of year for molting? I thought it happened in the fall not late spring

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Do you have a rooster? Sounds like from mating.

 

[Chic Rustler]

Yes i have 2 roosters. The alpha makes sure they are bred several times a day and the other one is just coming into maturity. I have seen him try several times to mount them

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Hens will lose the feathers on their backs as well as the top wing joint. They will grow them back after a fall molt.

 

[Chic Rustler]

Thanks for the info.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

It is possible to force-molt or force a hen into molting behavior. I don't recommend doing it but it can be done.

 

[aart]

Look for new 'pin feathers' to determine if they are molting or loosing feathers for another reason.
15 months is not out of range for a molt, in spring is odd but not unprecedented- especially if birds were kept under lights last winter.
Change of location, feed, etc can trigger a stress molt.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Back in march i bought 10 red sex link hens that were 13 months old. They are good birds, lay everyday like clockwork. Now i notice a couple of them are starting to lose feathers on their backs and some wig feathers as well. It seems new feathers are coming in but im not 100% sure about that yet. Is this normal? Are they at the right age (15 months) and the right time of year for molting? I thought it happened in the fall not late spring

I had several of my girls do a mini molt this spring who were born Feb of last year. I figure it partly weather related as my nutrition and flock condition are good.

Previously I though birds born early season would give you two full seasons laying with no molt. That has not been my experience. Most my early season birds from last year did some sort of mini molt early this year. Now, I am on the coast and our temps only vary maybe 15 degrees per season and not more than 10 degrees daily. I do not provide extra light and I am at the CAL/Or border.

As much as I would think it *should* happen in fall, not spring... simple fact is the birds don't care what I think!

One year when we lived in the desert, my BR waited until the coldest day in January to suddenly lose a bunch of fluff.

The larger my flock and longer I raise birds... the more things I see are actually normal, if not common.

I also learned recently that feathers which get pulled out will grow back in before molt. One of my hens got in the stag pen with a bunch of rowdy boys and was posing as Naked Neck for a while. But I see pin feathers coming in now.

I was wondering what the "wig" feathers were!

Yes i have 2 roosters. The alpha makes sure they are bred several times a day and the other one is just coming into maturity. I have seen him try several times to mount them

I agree it's likely mating damage. Two boys might be a bit much for 10 girls... especially if just coming into maturity... that's a cockerel, not a roo. Don't know how old the one you are calling alpha is. But they learn manners a little after maturing and ease up a bit on the girls.

If you need to you can get a saddle to protect the girls feathers.

Why did you ad a second boy? I'm guessing if he's just coming into maturity that he didn't come with them when you got the girls.

 

[Chic Rustler]

The flock is actually 45 but only 9 hens are in lay. Im hoping the rest will start this summer. I have some rir and br pullets i hope to isolate with the rir roo for breeding purposes

 

[MarySue]

My 3 year old Brahma has begun molting this week. She had a very hard molt this fall so I am really surprised. No parasites so no obvious reason. Any ideas?