summer molt?

[kristip]

I have two girls, my more dominant girls in a small coop that seem to be molting around their head. I just got them in the fall and no one molted in fall/winter that I know of. is this normal to lost feathers, most around head/comb/face in summer? This could be why egg production is low too? How long does it last.

thanks

 

[MomKat]

I am also wondering about a molt - I'm seeing lots of feathers, but my girls still look okay. They're 18 1/2 weeks, RIRs, not laying yet, but I think they're close. Could they be molting before they lay? Or is this something to do with the heat or something else?

 

[thwoody28]

Chickens will molt at about 18 months of age. Molting may take 2 to 4 months. The summer time heat seams to effect mine too - I really make sure that their water is cool and not hot and clean,