Spotting a molting rooster

[RodNTN]

Thanks for the replies everyone!

First open his wings and look for feather replacement that occurs over almost half the year. Mine in the northern hemisphere start molt in May. The heavy part occurs starting in August. Some roosters undergo an eclipse molt that starts in July.

See thread below.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/partial-eclipse-molt-in-american-game.535707/#post-6841444


The game chickens have "hard" feathers that are more noticeable when lost. Birds like American Dominiques and the Plymouth Rocks variations are typical of breeds with "soft" feathers where tail feather replacement is harder to notice.

I have looked through all of his feathers, there is not even a pin feather coming through!

My adult roosters are Dominique and Ayam Cemani. Their plumage isn't worn looking, it is actually very shiny. Maybe they molt in late summer and I just don't notice?

Finding hackle and tail feathers on the roost boards.
Most mine(only had 3) have started in August.
Only had a few birds do a hard (bare naked then pin cushion) molt here,
mostly it's just seeing feathers around and they look a bit scraggly and 'smaller'....missing tails are to miss.

Their feathers aren't under the roosts either, and they don't seem smaller or scraggly.

 

[centrarchid]

Thanks for the replies everyone!



I have looked through all of his feathers, there is not even a pin feather coming through!

My adult roosters are Dominique and Ayam Cemani. Their plumage isn't worn looking, it is actually very shiny. Maybe they molt in late summer and I just don't notice?



Their feathers aren't under the roosts either, and they don't seem smaller or scraggly.

Most of my younger adults (less than 4 years old) are finished molting. A couple older birds are late.

 

[RodNTN]

@Relleoms, your rooster is so bare! I bet he is beautiful when the molt is over, though!

 

[RodNTN]

Most of my younger adults (less than 4 years old) are finished molting. A couple older birds are late.

So maybe my boys just molt early? Because they certainly aren't late

 

[rebrascora]

There is still time yet!