Molting in Winter

[chickndays]

Is it normal for chickens to molt during winter when it has already started snowing? I noticed one Barred Rock losing feathers about a month ago and another one today. We're averaging 1-2 eggs per day now. They are about 9 months, but as far as I can tell they're all eating, drinking and droppings look normal. I was able to examine the molting one today and it looks normal and healthy. We did move two months ago, so maybe they're still dealing with that upheaval?

 

[azygous]

Nine-month olds aren't doing a normal adult molt. More likely it is the final juvenile molt you are witnessing. If these birds lose more than a few feathers resulting in bald patches, there is some other reason responsible.

Generally, adult molt varies a lot from chicken to chicken, genetics playing a role. I have a flock of twenty, and all molt at different rates and intensities, and those individual molts can vary from year to year.

The most extreme molting behavior in my flock is an EE x Legbar that skipped her first adult molt and instead molted in summer after she was two years old. She went on to skip her second molt, and again molted in summer. The third molt was two years later in fall. Currently, she's only just started to molt, and it's anyone's guess if she completes it this winter.

 

[azygous]

this is Ladybug, in her molting splendor.