molting?

[Jessi81]

Do chickens go through a juvenile molt? We bought ours 4 months ago on September 7th. They are losing feathers, no bald spots, just a lot of feathers everywhere. They seem healthy and very happy. Although I think they don't think they get enough raisins reach day, one top of other "kitchen" treats and scratch they get! Any answers or thoughts appreciated!

 

[ChickNanny13]

I most certainly think they do, I call it a "soft" molt! I got my girls (4 BO) at 8wks/end of May, told they were hatched April 3rd, so they're 21wks now. I've been finding feathers, the short downy/soft type ones in their enclosure. I've seen it happen with other juveniles in the past, think they don't have their "adult" molt until the 2nd Summer of their lives? I've never had any that long, I raise pullets until they're ready to lay or just starting to lay before I sell them.

 

[Honeybee22]

I know my three 4 month olds (RIR, Black sexlink, and an Amber White) just finished losing a bunch of feathers. They were everywhere. This went on for a month. Now my 3 month olds are starting to lose feathers. Now I know it's a soft molt... Jeez, I can't imagine how many feathers they're gonna drop when they have their adult molt!

 

[ChickNanny13]

ALOT! I only have 4 BOs & they are "confined" to their enclosure (8x12x7) that's wrapped in chicken wire, no real predator problems here. So the feathers are basically only in there, yes I do daily picking up! Thinking of collecting & doing something with it.