one hen molting leading to another?

[DutchieWannabe]

I was suprised to see one hen start molting so late in the season, though it has been fairly mild for us here in Southern Idaho. About a week after the first started to molt(or show actual signs of molting), a second hen has started dropping feathers in decent portions. but my question is: if one is molting will it trigger the othe ladies to start as well, or is it just these two are on a similar schedule?

 

[Nostalchic]

I'm not sure what triggers it - I always thought it was in response to light and the season since they always do it in late summer and fall, but all of my hens seems to start within a month or so of one another. It does seem odd - just when they really need their feathers (especially here in Colorado, though we had a long, mild fall this year) they only have about half of them. Brrr