Too early for molting, what is happening?! (Pictures)

[YelleBean]

I clean our coop really well once a month and my ladies and gents are all free range so they’re only inside for laying eggs and nighttime.I noticed 3 of my girls have lost quite a few feathers and it’s even worse around the head and neck area. Some of the back of my mille and my red and blue Wyandotte is losing just loose looking fluff kind of throughout. She’s free ranging, eating and drinking, but I’m concerned. My barnevelder looks a little greasy around her neck area and has lost some feathers on the back of her neck/head too and they look pitiful! They’re only 9-10 months old so it can’t be molting right? These are my first chickens and I’ve had them since they were 2 days old so naturally I’m worried. I also thought maybe overmating with our roo, but it doesn’t seem like this would happen in the front of her neck too. Also, we changed their feed about 4 weeks ago. I don’t see any mites or love that I can find, but I notice lots of preening with most of them, some more than others. Out of my 22 chickens, this is just with 3 of them. Pictures are of Loretta, my Wyandotte. What should I try? Thanks in advance!

 

[swamphiker]

Sometimes chickens can molt early! I had a blue rock that molted around 9-10 months when none of the other chickens that same age were molting.

 

[mamajos]

Some of mine that age also molted. Not unusual.

 

[black_cat]

I’m not sure what you mean- it’s not too early for molting? It’s November, which is well into molting season (late august- december, depending on climate and birds). Anyway, they’re just molting! No worries.

 

[black_cat]

I’m not sure what you mean- it’s not too early for molting? It’s November, which is well into molting season (late august- december, depending on climate and birds). Anyway, they’re just molting! No worries.

Ohhh you mean with age- some birds will go into a more dramatic juvenile molt than others- nothing to worry about!

 

[YelleBean]

I’m not sure what you mean- it’s not too early for molting? It’s November, which is well into molting season (late august- december, depending on climate and birds). Anyway, they’re just molting! No worries.

That makes me feel better! Oh, I just meant that they’re 9-10 months old so I wasn’t sure if they molt this soon. I always thought this wouldn’t happen until at least 16 months. I figured maybe the fall next year.

 

[YelleBean]

Some of mine that age also molted. Not unusual.

Thank you! Makes me feel better! My husband is sick of hearing from me about it!

 

[YelleBean]

Some of mine that age also molted. Not unusual.

Thanks for the info! I had no idea some molted earlier. She was one of my quicker maturing girls too.

 

[YelleBean]

Sometimes chickens can molt early! I had a blue rock that molted around 9-10 months when none of the other chickens that same age were molting.

Awesome, thank you! I am just racking my brain with it. I feel like when I google molting, I can only find 15-18 months and knew y’all would give me better info here!

 

[YelleBean]

Ohhh you mean with age- some birds will go into a more dramatic juvenile molt than others- nothing to worry about!

Gotcha! Welp, she’s dramatic so makes sense