Molting while brooding?

[Year of the Rooster]

Is it possible for a hen to molt while brooding? I've noticed a lot of feathers everywhere in my broody pen where 3 of my silkies are. All are brooding 9 chicks together, but I'm thinking that they're just pulling feathers out of each other. No blood, which is good, just a lot of white everywhere

ETA: These are NOT their breast feathers. They plucked those out about 5 weeks ago when I first set the eggs.

 

[Year of the Rooster]

Anyone? any ideas?

 

[Year of the Rooster]

Ok.... I'm assuming it's NOT possible?

 

[nhnanna]

I am pretty sure that they pull their own feathers out of thier chest while sitting on the eggs. Hopefully someone will come along that has had a broody.

 

[Year of the Rooster]

Quote:
Oh I know that. But these chicks are almost 2 weeks old and there are more than enough feathers that couldn't have come from just their breast area.

 

[ve]

LIke you know brooding is part of molting proces.It is normal for this time of year for broody hen to molt while she is raising her babies.Right now I have broody hen with one chick-she is molting,my rooster start it to and he will be 1 ea old in september.

 

[Year of the Rooster]

Quote:
Actually I didn't know brooding was part of the molting process, thanks though. My chickens will also be a year old this September.

 

[shelleyd2008]

I don't believe that brooding is part of the molting process, I have a few hens that brood one right after the other. They will raise their chicks till they are between 4 and 8 weeks old, lay eggs for a few weeks, then go right back to brooding. They do this all year round, even in the winter.

However, it is very possible that they are molting, I know many of my broodies have looked like they were. Just watch the hens to see if they are fighting, though being silkies I doubt it. I have a pair of silkie hens that always brood and raise chicks together, and never have any trouble with fighting.

If brooding were part of the molting process, my 2 game hens (the year-round broodies) would never have any feathers.

 

[Year of the Rooster]

Thank you shelley!

But, I do believe these hens are picking on each other. They're not exactly the frou-frous that you usually see (they're hatchery birds

) Thanks for the info!

 

[Usul]

My personal experience is that they can molt while brooding, but one doesn't necessarily mean the other. I've had three hens hatch eggs and only one went through a true molt while caring for her little ones. I must admit, though, that the other two hens did look better after their brooding was over. The only thing I can think of is that because they were eating a higher protein diet meant for new chicks it helped them rejuvenate a bit.