Molting??? This time of year???

[momtotnt]

Do hens have to be a certain age to molt? I too have feathers in the coop but they're from my 5mo old RIR - she hasn't even laid her first egg yet!

And, when one hen molts, does it affect the others? I have 3 hens total & the other two have been laying every day for several months. However, I haven't gotten any eggs from them in the past 4 days either! No signs of shells, no predators, no other explanation. I'm at a loss.

 

[flitter]

I guess we are all in the same "feathery" boat. The problem with this molt (spring/summer) is I think it takes longer than a fall molt.