Orpington Molting Age

[AnchoredHomestead]

Buff Orpingtons, will be a year old in 2 weeks. Normal for them to molt at this age? Can not find evidence of lice or mites. No evidence of bullying during day or on coop cam at night. Two hens dropping from lower feathers and around necks.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

I have two Orpingtons who are about that same age. One of them is missing feathers on the front part of her neck and isn't molting. I have some "beard pluckers" in my flock who are targeting that area. It started with a broody who taught it to the rest of the flock, and now they're just plain bored from the long winter.

If your hens are molting, it's not too much out of the ordinary. My birds usually molt in the fall, but they can molt anytime at this age.