Signs of starting to molt?

[robinwhiskers]

My 1 year old hens have never had their molt yet, what are signs they're just starting to molt? Especially if they're soft molters I'm curious. My rooster is in a different part of the coop than the hens and he doesn't look any different but I noticed a pile of feathers in one corner, a couple of our birds are looking slightly ruffled but I don't notice many feathers anywhere. They lost feathers over the summer due to mites so hopefully they will grow those back.

 

[PirateGirl]

More feathers than usual in the coop/run. I feel like I first notice it in the nest boxes.

Itching, chickens are scratching out the old feathers and the new ones growing in seem to make them itchy.

Pin feathers start to appear.

 

[Chickassan]

Oh you'll know...the bald and mountains of feathers will give it away. Not to mention the dramatic increase in grumpiness. They are not happy campers about getting naked.

 

[chickens really]

Most of my Birds never have a serious Bald molt. They lose lots of feathers as they are right now but nothing too serious. My Birds are two and a half years old.

 

[Rysktal]

Last year I thought my hens had molted already, then one morning I walked into their coop and there was feathers EVERYWHERE and my hens looked terrible, lol.
So yes, you will know when they are molting, there is no guess. Hahahaha.

 

[chickens really]

Definitely your location plays a big part in how they molt too..

 

[Morrigan]

It varies from bird to bird. Most of mine have been slow molters. A decrease and eventually cessation in laying, and feathers in coop are the early signs. But, I've had hens that go to bed looking pretty good, and wake up with bald patches and an enormous pile of feathers under their roost.

 

[robinwhiskers]

Thanks for the replies! Hopefully mine aren't hard molters, I live in Georgia so it's still pretty hot. I hope they soft molt so I won't have grumpy bald chickens, especially because one is a trick chicken and I hope she doesn't lose her spunk for training!