When do chicks go through their first molt?

[TheSpiceGirls]

My girls are 11 weeks old. And actually the one in question is a 12 week old Cuckoo Marans. All the girls are all fully feathered and living outside full time.

The Cuckoo Marans is loosing lots of feathers. I don't notice any bare patches on her but there are quite a few of her feathers all over the house and run.
Is it normal for a 12 week old pullet to go through a mini-molt?

She's also kind of moody. She won't come to eat out of my hand. Which they always did before. I have to toss treats over the others to her in order to give her treats.

Otherwise, they all seem healthy and happy.

Thoughts?

 

[al6517]

Quote:
she is way to young to even think about molting................ given the way you said she's acting it could be several things, worms, feather picking by the others, lice/mites, nutrition, and Failure to thrive.

since they have all been hatched & raised together, feather picking and failure to thrive are the only ones that make any sense.

AL

 

[TheSpiceGirls]

she is way to young to even think about molting................ given the way you said she's acting it could be several things, worms, feather picking by the others, lice/mites, nutrition, and Failure to thrive.

since they have all been hatched & raised together, feather picking and failure to thrive are the only ones that make any sense.


Okay, I'll have to watch this more. I don't see this when I'm out there with them. Course, I only spend about 20 minutes a day with them. They are in a HUGE run for just four girls and all have plenty of access to food, water and treats. So I don't see them picking on each other or pecking. They all seem to be at the same level. If I had to pick a leader of the pack, it would be this one hen who seems to be sheading more than her fair share of feathers.

I'll keep and eye on her and see what gives.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'm sorry but you got bad information. They go through minimolts before they reach adulthood. Those are what are called juvenile molts. It is not at all unusual for the coop and run to look like a pillow burst when they go through those juvenile molts.

I like to give these two links together since I think they have great information about molting. Them molting before adulthood is discussed a bit in the Kansas State link.

Mississippi State describes molting
http://msucares.com/poultry/management/poultry_feathers.html

Kansas State feather loss
http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/library/lvstk2/mf2308.pdf

 

[arenea74]

Thanks! My babies are 15 weeks old. I'm finding lots of loose barred feathers all in the coop. I feel better now.