moulting hens?

[lemoniee]

Hi all,
Im a bit worried about 3 of my hens, they have bald tummies! :S one of them-speckeldy has had it for about a week now and has been broody in the henhouse most of the day so we got her some eggs to hatch so shes sitting all day and tootling out once in day for food and water and a little strole around, my other two: Ermintrude and Brown one ive just noticed this morning their tummies going bald, we checked for any parasites in the remaining tummy feathers but didnt find anything, they seem happy and healthy and are eating, drinking and scratting around as per, we've had them since Jan09 and wondering if this is normal or if we need to be concerned?
thanks all

 

[SushiLove]

It's my understanding that a lot of chickens are going through a molt much earlier this year.
I'm not a molting expert so let's see what the rest of the BYC gang have to say.

 

[chickenbottom]

well broodies like to rip their tummy feathers out for skin contact with eggs for more warmth and place the feathers they snatch out around the nest. as for the other 2 they could be molting idk

 

[lemoniee]

wow! thats pretty interesting about the plucking feathers to get closer to the eggs! clever little things arent they! im learning new things about this chicken keeping lark everyday! thanks again