Molting or something more serious?

[ChiffonCake]

Recently, I’ve noticed that my hen has been losing feathers on both sides of her wings (in the picture shown). From a quick Google search about molting, the sources that I’ve read said that chickens usually only molt near the end of summer - autumn. Is there something potentially wrong with my hen?

 

[U_Stormcrow]

While I can't see your picture clearly, and I've read the same things you have about late summer/Autumn for start of molt, my 14 month old birds, a CornishX (don't ask!) and some "Rainbows" from Hoover Hatchery have started to molt. The poor Cornish is having a hard molt, has lost feathers in identical patches behind/under both wings, plus breast and belly. The Rainbows are going thru a soft molt. Individual feathers stuck up here and there ala "bad hair day / bed head", and bits of spent feathers scattered everywhere. My Comets may be doing it too, but its not (yet?) as noticeable. Certainly, my flock egg production has dropped.

On that subject, has your hen's laying dropped off significantly?

/edit just fed my birds early, took a few moments to really inspect the flock. One of the Comets is molting, one of the Dark Brahma too.

 

[ChiffonCake]

While I can't see your picture clearly, and I've read the same things you have about late summer/Autumn for start of molt, my 14 month old birds, a CornishX (don't ask!) and some "Rainbows" from Hoover Hatchery have started to molt. The poor Cornish is having a hard molt, has lost feathers in identical patches behind/under both wings, plus breast and belly. The Rainbows are going thru a soft molt. Individual feathers stuck up here and there ala "bad hair day / bed head", and bits of spent feathers scattered everywhere. My Comets may be doing it too, but its not (yet?) as noticeable. Certainly, my flock egg production has dropped.

On that subject, has your hen's laying dropped off significantly?

/edit just fed my birds early, took a few moments to really inspect the flock. One of the Comets is molting, one of the Dark Brahma too.

It’s a bit reassuring that I’m not the only one (more like my hen isn’t the only one) experiencing this.

To answer your question about laying, my hen has been laying like usual, even with the patches. Is this good or bad?

 

[U_Stormcrow]

It’s a bit reassuring that I’m not the only one (more like my hen isn’t the only one) experiencing this.

To answer your question about laying, my hen has been laying like usual, even with the patches. Is this good or bad?

Figuring it out myself, this is my first molt. Egg production usually drops with the molt. Or so I've read.

 

[ChiffonCake]

Figuring it out myself, this is my first molt. Egg production usually drops with the molt. Or so I've read.

I see. I’ll just wait and see if the feathers grow back and see if there are any significant signs. Thank you so much.

 

[demonic]

Recently, I’ve noticed that my hen has been losing feathers on both sides of her wings (in the picture shown). From a quick Google search about molting, the sources that I’ve read said that chickens usually only molt near the end of summer - autumn. Is there something potentially wrong with my hen?

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My chickens did the same since winter and they havent lost any feathers since they just have random patches right there. They still have the patches but they are perfectly fine I wouldnt think much of it

 

[ChiffonCake]

My chickens did the same since winter and they havent lost any feathers since they just have random patches right there. They still have the patches but they are perfectly fine I wouldnt think much of it

That’s really good to hear. Hopefully it’s the same for my hen

 

[demonic]

That’s really good to hear. Hopefully it’s the same for my hen

I assumed it was from my rooster mating them but I wasn’t even sure