Our ladies are 6 months old and we live on the coast in central california. Our girls starting molting about 3 weeks ago, but mostly on their backs above their tales. It hasn't hurt egg production. The Wyandottes and Orps have molted the most. The Australorps have only lost a few feathers. I don't think we will win the contest. We are trying to keep them on 18% feed to give them extra protein. They are getting a lot of garden goodies also since the garden is about finished for this year. Tomatoes and watermelons are the favorites.