JUDGING PAST EGG PRODUCTION HENS
MOLT
To check for molt, hold the wing open like a fan.
The short feather in the middle is the axial feather.
There are ten primary feathers on the outside of the
axial toward the wing tip.
Birds molt from the axial to the tip.
Old feathers that have not been molted will be worn on
the ends and may be broken or dirty.
New or molted feathers will have neat, smooth ends and
appear clean.
They also may show different lengths if the bird is
molting now.
Example of a one-feather molt.
Replacement feather not yet visible.
Example of a Four-feather molt,
With the four new feathers visible.