🪶🍂 If the feathers are piling up around your coop like leaves in autumn, your chickens are likely going through a natural process called molting.
This can be a sudden and surprising sight for new chicken keepers 🫣 and you might be wondering...
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Is it normal for chickens to lose feathers in fall?
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Why did my hen stop laying eggs?
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How do I tell if my chicken is molting or sick?
In this blog, our EGGsperts will walk you through the process of molting, providing you with peace of mind and chicken care tips for your (temporarily) featherless fowl, including:
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What is molting and how long does molting last in chickens?
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Supporting your hens through molt.
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Decreased egg production during molt.
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The best high protein treats for molting chickens.
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Feather regrowth.
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Red flags for feather loss.
The Great Molt 🪶
About once a year, most chickens go through a full molt, shedding their old, weathered feathers and regrowing a fresh, new set. This seasonal molt occurs in late summer or early fall when the days start to get shorter, typically beginning when hens are around 18 months old.
The entire process usually lasts between 4 to 12 weeks, depending on the bird. Some chickens go through a “soft molt” where they lose feathers gradually, while others go through a dramatic “hard molt” and look nearly naked for a while!
Molting is messy, and the sight of your disheveled chickens may be concerning, but it’s actually a sign that they are healthy, and that their bodies are doing exactly what they should. Their new feathers will keep them warm, dry, and protected throughout the winter months.
🪶 Of Note: Factors like stress, illness, or a sudden change in diet or environment can also cause a molt outside of the usual cycle. If the timing seems off, consider these other factors, and consult your veterinarian or local poultry expert with any specific questions or concerns.
Healthy Habits For Your Molting Flock ❤️🩹
Here are some tips to help you support your molting flock:
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Handle with care: Feather shafts growing in (called “pin feathers”) can be tender, and chickens are often sensitive to touch during a molt.
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Prevent chills: Bare skin chills easily, so ensure your coop is dry and draft-free
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Be a referee: Keep a close watch on your molting flock and separate birds displaying aggressive behaviors to protect exposed skin
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Keep it clean: As always, fresh chicken coop bedding, clean nesting boxes, and clean dust baths reduce the risk of mites and skin irritation or infection
Omit The Omlet 🥚
Having a full coat of feathers to provide warmth and protection is more critical to survival than reproduction. This means that during a molt, you’ll likely notice a significant drop in egg production. This can be frustrating, but these cycles are normal and necessary to maintain a healthy flock.
Feather regrowth is incredibly demanding on a chicken’s body. Feathers are made up mostly of keratin, a protein that also requires energy, vitamins, and minerals to rebuild. During a molt, your hens reallocate their energy resources. They only have so much “fuel” to burn, and feather regrowth gets prioritized while egg production is put on pause.
The good news is that for most hens this pause lasts a few weeks to a couple of months, depending on how long their molt takes. Once new feathers are in and the chicken’s body recovers, egg production should pick back up.
✨ Pro Tip: For more consistent egg production, consider adding new chicks to your flock in stages. First-year birds often skip their first full molt, and pullets (young hens) may begin to lay in the fall, right around the time your older hens are molting.
Feed the Feathers 🐓
Since feathers are mostly made of protein, a protein and nutrient boost can be very beneficial during molting season.
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High protein chicken feed: Consider switching from standard layer feed to a feed with higher protein
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Protein packed chicken treats: Offer mealworms, black soldier fly larvae, and sunflower seeds
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Fresh greens: Kale, dandelion greens, spinach, and sprouted greens (fodder) provide extra micronutrients
When to Worry 🥺
While molting is a normal process, there are a few red flags to watch for:
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Feather loss that doesn’t regrow within a few months, or is accompanied by redness, sores, or swelling, which could be a sign of infection
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Bald spots with scabs or wounds, which could be a sign of bullying from a flock mate
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Constant pecking or itching, which could indicate mites or lice
If you're unsure whether it’s a regular molt or something more, again, please don’t hesitate to consult your veterinarian or local poultry expert with questions or concerns.
With a little patience, some extra nutrition, and a watchful eye, your chickens will come through molting season looking absolutely gorgeous, darling, with feathers re-fluffed, refreshed, and ready for the next season.
Read more about getting your flock and coop ready for fall.
Feathered Regards,
~The RentACoop Team
