Summer molting?

[Wyorp Rock]

So if the feathers are being dropped as complete, undamaged feathers, without any blood/veins, molting is likely (but not definitely, of course) the cause? Hearing your thoughts always helps me so much.
Edited to add: As you know, here in NC, our Temps have been all over the place, but our days are long. I'm not sure what else could be causing it but I certainly don't want to dismiss it if you don't feel like I should.

Yes, you will see "whole" feathers dropping and pin feathers starting to emerge.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

What is a good treatment for nibbling just noticed this morning as I was observing my chickens?

Could be boredom, but sometimes adding a little extra protein can help if they are eating what they nibble.

 

[SusanCranford]

I'm in North Texas and I'm seeing the same thing. I have three that have not laid in weeks. I have check for mites. Nobody is egg bound. Food has not changed. Our temps have been normal for July in Texas (low to upper 90's). I figured the lack of eggs was due to the stress of our two new additions, but I started to see a lot of feathers from both my brahmas. My buff brahma is definitely molting...she's shakes and feathers go everywhere and she's looking like a pin cushion.

 

[Blue Raptor]

Greeting everyone. My chickens appear to be molting. This seems very unusual for late spring-early summer. We are having a bad heatwave (102-106). Normally it is high 80s mid-90s. Is anyone else experiencing the same problem? Please let me know and all suggestions are appreciated.

Lucky them for escaping the heat! They don’t make themselves molt, it just happens. We have one doing it now, and she seems to be doing good. I’m pretty sure it’s not some sort of sickness.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

One of my ducks and one of my hens (both are 22 months old) seem to be going through a molt right now too. I was worried but I recently read another post talking about this same thing. I'll wait to see what the experts say. Other than dropping some beautiful and perfect feathers, both of my girls seem to be OK. The feathers look like they've come out naturally since they're intact and blood/skin free. Both have slacked off laying as well. Following this closely

 

[CHISPA]

How old are they?
Can you please post some photos?
Are you in the US?

Hello Wyrop Rock. Yes I am in the USA on the west coast side. I am attaching pictures of the whole flock and of the chichiada with the most molting. Picture didn't capture the molting as well as I was hoping. Any thoughts?

 

[Blue Raptor]

Thank you Blue Raptor. My chiquiadas seem happy and healthy other than molting. Yes, if I had that many feathers I would like to lose them in the heat!

No prob.

 

[Toloache]

I'm on the west coast as well -- southern ca -- & we just rode out a 101 degree heat wave that lasted several days. Your thread made me wonder about my girls too -- it seems like they all started going through their first molt a couple of months ago (on schedule -- they are about 18 months old). several lost feathers and now have new, healthy ones growing in, but i have one hen that has a completely bare bottom & seems to be taking forever to grow her feathers in! They all have slacked off a bit on their laying, but I'm still getting plenty of eggs. No pest problems that I can see, although I did find a cluster of nits a few weeks ago & removed them with coconut/oregano oil -- haven't ever seen a live lice on anybody & I did a lot of inspecting. They are happy, completely spoiled girls (and boys!) that free-range on about half an acre. Wondering if there's something else going on here? Do they just all molt at different paces? Should I inspect them more thoroughly? It's my first time observing my flock molt, so I'm not exactly sure what to expect...

 

[CHISPA]

Thank you for your replies. I had a roster but it has been a month or so since he is gone. Had to put him down as he was injured since birth. He was hurting, and wasn't able to walk much. He was hurting the hens too when mounting them as he was heavy and clumsy; it was very sad but it felt like the righ thing. Hens seem happier now except for the heat and molting if that's what it is. Thanks again my chicken friends!

 

[CHISPA]

I'm on the west coast as well -- southern ca -- & we just rode out a 101 degree heat wave that lasted several days. Your thread made me wonder about my girls too -- it seems like they all started going through their first molt a couple of months ago (on schedule -- they are about 18 months old). several lost feathers and now have new, healthy ones growing in, but i have one hen that has a completely bare bottom & seems to be taking forever to grow her feathers in! They all have slacked off a bit on their laying, but I'm still getting plenty of eggs. No pest problems that I can see, although I did find a cluster of nits a few weeks ago & removed them with coconut/oregano oil -- haven't ever seen a live lice on anybody & I did a lot of inspecting. They are happy, completely spoiled girls (and boys!) that free-range on about half an acre. Wondering if there's something else going on here? Do they just all molt at different paces? Should I inspect them more thoroughly? It's my first time observing my flock molt, so I'm not exactly sure what to expect...