Molting?? Sick??

[lindsay297]

I have some questions about if this is a molt or if I should be concerned. This is my first time with molting and not sure.....
I have read all the forums on molting and I think that this is it. I have also read forums on sickness symptoms and have found some could be this as well. Any reassurances or opinions would be appreciated.

I have 11 commercial, vaccinated RIR crosses and they are 12 months old. They have been giving me 10-11 eggs a day. They are eating, drinking, and acting normal. Their poo is mostly fine, sometimes a bit runny. They have been exposed to a constant 15 hrs a day lighting, thanks to supplemental lighting and are feed layer feed (18%) and veggie scraps (only about 2 cups a day). They are in an enclosed run with over 10 sq per chicken.

Most of them have started to loose some feathers around their legs, tail and wings/back. They are starting to look a bit ragged around the edges. The last three weeks have only had about 8-9 eggs a day. The last three days I have had 5-6 eggs. They are lying a bit low the last few but, it has gone up over 30C the last couple of days as well.

What do you think?? Is this a moult or should I be concerned? What are things I should be looking for? If it is a moult should I up their protein and how (would rather not buy another bag of food)?

 

[Happy Chooks]

Doesn't sound like a molt, but it's possible. Usually molting looks like a pillow exploded in your yard. Do you see any pin feathers in the naked areas? Have you checked them for mites/lice? Flip them upside down and look for them around the vent.

Is the feather loss above the tail or below? Do you have a rooster?

 

[lindsay297]

No mites or lice.....no rooster. I wormed them 2 months ago. There are no bare areas. Just feathers gone not fluff. The feather loss is on top of the tail (around its base). 2 of them are full feathered and not showing any signs of feather loss.