Two girls issues

[Vikinglike]

My girls are seven months old... they’ve been laying for quite a while now....
I have two concerns:
1) one of my Buff Orpingtons has been laying in a box almost all day. If I question her, she fluffs up and get defensive about it... she looks healthy. It appears that she hasn’t laid in two days... just laying on a fake egg. Isn’t it too early for her to be broody?
2) I have a Golden Laced Wyandotte. She also acts quite healthy, but she has a small patch of feathers gone. When her tail is up you don’t really notice.
Isnt she took young to molt?

Help and thank you!!!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

View attachment 1933482 View attachment 1933478 View attachment 1933479 View attachment 1933480 My girls are seven months old... they’ve been laying for quite a while now....
I have two concerns:
1) one of my Buff Orpingtons has been laying in a box almost all day. If I question her, she fluffs up and get defensive about it... she looks healthy. Isn’t it too early for her to be broody?
2) I have a Golden Laced Wyandotte. She also acts quite healthy, but she has a small patch of feathers gone.
Isnt she took young to molt?

Help and thank you!!!

Your BO looks like she's broody even in the photos and from your description, yep...she's broody LOL If you don't plan on hatching any eggs, I would break her so she begins to lay (hopefully) through winter. https://the-chicken-chick.com/broody-breaker-when-hens-mood-to-hatch/

The GLW, the missing feathers - looks like she's getting plucked. Observe your flock especially during roosting time, this is when you can see some feather picking. Evaluate how much coop/run space you have (sq ft of each), sometimes space or boredom can be an issue.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Isn’t it too early for her to be broody?

Nope, broody ladies in my flock have done so within 2 weeks of starting to lay.

It really isn't idea IMO, as they are still not mature. They can be successful... but I like to suggest break her NOW, and plan ahead for the future because she WILL go broody again. I also like to adopt feed store chicks to reduce the number of roosters I have to deal with over hatching sometimes. A raised wire floor kennel or simply a grass bottom pen away from the chosen nest... usually takes about 3 days for them to snap out of it.

Isnt she took young to molt?

No, chickens don't read the rules or care what we think is normal. They can have mini molts and it isn't uncommon at all.

But your's looks more like bullying than molt.

Gorgeous birds!