Why the Differences in looks and Molt in these Buff Brahmas Hens

[SCPumpkinTown]

We have some young Buff Brahmas that came from the same hatch. But some of the hens look more like a rooster. They are taller and slimmer than the other hens. Some of the hens are so pretty. They are shorter and more rounded. The rooster, and the hens that look more like him, are in molt. The regular looking pretty hens are not molting. These chickens are 5 months old today. Is this normal?? See pictures below:



These are the pretty hens..



this is the molting rooster





These are 2 of the taller hens that looks more like the rooster. They are in molt too. I guess that is molt. I hope they are not sick. Any help appreciated!!!

 

[brahmabreeder]

The bottom three are males. Note the saddle feathers.

 

[ChickenCurt]

5 months and molting, hmmm, mine only molt at a year or more. Hope others chime in for more information. Best to you & your young flock.

 

[Den in Penn]

Welcome to BYC.
Yes the bottom two are male. My guess is they are going through their last juvenile molt. Brahmas being a slower maturing breed would make that about the right time. The cockerels mature first so they are going through it first, and relatively hard one. The pullets should be following them soon.

 

[donrae]

First picture is all females, other pictures are all males.

 

[azygous]

I'm curious, where do you live? It's a bit late in the season in the northern hemisphere for chickens to be in full molt, I would think.

I have Buff Brahmas. I've never had any molt like that until their second year, especially never at age five months.

Is the rooster that is molting heavily older than the rest?

 

[SCPumpkinTown]

They are all the same age. The man we bought them from when they were chicks said he thought maybe 2 of them were roosters. We were going by the fact the one that we know to be a rooster crows,the others do not. We live in the upstate of South Carolina and are pretty new to chickens. I just hope they are not sick or something.

 

[azygous]

How long have you had them? Are the hens laying yet? Were they subjected to harsh conditions where they came from? Deprived of food for periods of time? How clean was the place where they came from? Have you inspected their skin for parasites? Parasites can irritate the skin and might result in feather loss.

Extreme stress can cause molt. Bad nutrition can. Is your coop vulnerable to rats? Rats can attack chickens on the roost at night.

Five-months olds shouldn't be molting like that.