Chickens moulting

[Barmaid]

One of my chickens has started to moult. Or at least I hope that's what it is! She looks really straggly and the garden is covered in feathers. Now it looks as if the second one has started. Is it normal for them to moult at this time of year? I thought it was late summer/early autumn.

They are all about 17 months old. They've been treated for mites and their hen house treated too. I'm supplementing their food with additional protein.

Apart from looking a bit manky, they appear otherwise healthy. I've not noticed an appreciable drop in egg production.

Is there anything I am missing?

(PS, on the funny side, the one who is moulting the most was caught scoffing sage in the herb garden last night. My OH quipped that's she's terribly clever in learning to pluck and stuff herself, now she just needs to put herself in the oven!!!)

[rowanwitch]

just need to feed her breadcrumbs and onion

[wildwood]

It is a bit early for moulting, yes.
It does sound almost as if one of the other chooks has developed a plucking habit.

Just in case, it may pay to provide extra oystershell grit. In what form are you providing additional protein, sometimes giving too much of one additive upsets the balance of their diet and leads them to do funny things.