When do hens molt?

[Chickylet]

Hi all,

I have hens that are just 1 year old (got them March 1st last year as day old chicks). Question though, when do they molt? I have 1 buff orpington who looks like she's molting. Losing feathers, looks really funny, but I'm not sure if she's molting or being bullied. No one else appears to be losing their feathers yet.

Elissa in MA

 

[Spartan22]

It’s not unheard of, but normally molting happens from 18 to 24 months, my first batch of chickens didn’t molt until the 30 month, at least wasn’t obvious till then. Now she could be on the bottom of the pecking order, some bullying you’ve never seen until the roosting time, she could have not been getting the right nutrients? Or she has some lice, mites or other conditions that causes feather lost. Do you see pin feathers coming?

 

[flowerfaeiry]

Some birds molt hard and look a mess while the new feathers come in, and others you will barely even see molting. It depends on the breed, weather conditions, health, many factors. Most molting occurs in fall and spring. As long as you see new feathers coming in, don't worry! The new feathers can be picked on by other hens, and a broken blood feather can bleed profusely so watch for picking!

 

[Eggcessive]

Molting depends on when they are born. On average they molt first around 16-18 months although it varies among each chicken. Then it happens once a year thereafter. I have had a couple who molted in winter at 2 years old. Usually you may notice they lose tail feathers, then you might see larger patches of neck or chest feathers missing. New feather bluish shafts may be seen coming in. Some chickens are hardly noticeable when molting except for tail feathers. Expect them to look a bit raggedy when molting, acting more aloof, and they may eat less. They do not like being handled at this time, since it can be painful. Here are some articles to read:
https://www.grit.com/animals/molting-what-is-it--how-to-help-chickens-get-through-it

https://www.nutrenaworld.com/blog/the-molting-process

 

[Acre4Me]

My chickens turned 1 year old on Feb 28. One EE started molting just before 1st “hatchday”. Now the other EE has started to molt at 12.5 months old. And I’m noticing all black feathers in the run (in addition to EE feathers), so am wondering if one or more BA or BJG are molting, but it’s not obvious (yet) who is contributing the black feathers. The first EE to molt is looking pretty raggedy. I guess the only good thing about this early molt of the EEs is the fact they should be looking good for the fair during the summer when 4-H kid shows them as “old” colored egg layers. Of course, Murphy’s law says our lone rooster (that our 4-H kid wants to show) will molt just before fair.

 

[MissChick@dee]

Chickens can have soft or hard molts. Usually they have their first official molt somewhere around 18 months of age.
Some of my chickens are roughly the same age as yours and they’ve had spotty molts. One lost all the feathers down the back of her neck. I could clearly see pin quills so I knew it wasn’t bullying (so odd). Then I had one that only molted on her head and face and butt end (go figure)
Check your girl up close. Take a look for new feathers. During molt they can be uncomfortable and cranky. HOW you handle them matters. You don’t want to ruffle or rub. You don’t want to break off new feathers. Pick them up securely.
Remember each chicken is a individual no two are the same....but when it comes to molting they all get the same case of “uglies” lol.