4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[skye]

Afternoon all

 

My little Buff Orpingtons, age approx 15-17 weeks, appear to have started moulting.

 

They have spiky spines on their heads and necks which would indicate new growth to me and to be expected in young pullets.

 

However there are quite a few feathers (flight feathers and small ones too) lying in the run.

 

There's no pecking going on I'm sure.

 

They are otherwise extremely healthy, perky and into EVERYTHING lol.

 

Is this normal in young chooks which have not yet reached POL? I wondered if they were losing their 'chick' feathers and renewing them with adult ones, but this is based purely on guesswork.

 

Would appreciate it if somebody much more experienced than we at Skye could shed some light.

I'd hate to think we were feeding them wrongly or something.

 

Thanks guys in advance

Heidi x

[skye]

It would appear I have posted this question prematurely, as after a little net research I found this:

 

"The pullet

The chick goes through one complete and three partial moults during its growth to point of lay, after which the mature bird normally undergoes one complete moult a year, usually in autumn although this depends on the time of the year at which the bird commenced laying. Generally complete moulting occurs from 1-6 weeks and partial moulting at 7-9 weeks, 12-16 weeks and 20-22 weeks, and during this latter moult the stiff tail feathers are grown."

 

Looks like our girls are going through the second partial moult of their development

 

Sorry to have bothered you guys x

[Egluntyne]

My Claudia, who is 16 weeks old is moulting too.

[skye]

Egluntine - reassuing to hear Claudia is also having a mini-moult. I guess it reinforces the theory. Thanks!

 

Heidi (Skye) x

[quickcluck]

That explains why i'm finding feathers from my 4 girls. They are 14-15 weeks I think. Thanks for the info Skye

[Valkyrie]

Our orpies did the same last year - looked like a pillow fight in the garden - mow them up and compost 'em! Our little ones are also dropping them everywhere - doesn't help when DD brings them indoors and they flap feathers all over the place - I even found one in my bedroom - not from the pillows - cuckoo maran stripey!

[Henhathnofury]

I tend to leave feathers in the garden this time of year, as wild birds use them for their nests. We had a poorly girl who sadly died and when I was nursing her in a separate run on the grass, a lot of her feathers dropped out. After she had died, I went out to clean up the feathers and they were all being taken. I liked the idea of her feathers being recycled in that gentle way. So now I leave them when the girls moult and they all disappear..........