As summer ends and daylight hours shorten, chicken owners often notice a significant change in their flock: molting. This natural process involves shedding old feathers and growing new ones, preparing the birds for the colder months ahead. While molting is a normal part of a chicken's life cycle, it can be a stressful time for the birds. Providing proper diet and care during this period is crucial for their health and well-being. This article will guide you through the molting process and how to best support your chickens.
Understanding Molting
Molting is an annual event for mature chickens, typically starting around 18 months old and recurring each fall. It's triggered by shorter daylight hours, which signal the end of the laying cycle and the need to prepare for winter. The process involves shedding old, worn-out feathers to make way for new, healthy ones that provide better insulation and protection.
Why Do Chickens Molt?
Chickens molt for several important reasons:
- Feather Replacement: Molting allows chickens to shed old, worn-out feathers and grow new ones. Feathers are essential for protection, insulation, and even limited flight.
- Energy Conservation: Growing new feathers requires a significant amount of energy and nutrients. During molting, chickens typically reduce or cease egg production to allocate resources to feather regrowth.
- Parasite Control: Molting helps chickens get rid of damaged or parasitized feathers that can harbor mites and lice.
- Seasonal Adaptation: Molting often occurs in response to changes in daylight length and seasonal temperatures, preparing hens for the colder months.
- Response to Stress: Molting can also be a response to stress or poor health, allowing the chicken to recover and maintain overall health.
The Molting Process
The molting process typically follows a pattern, starting from the head and neck, progressing to the body, wings, and finally, the tail. Some chickens undergo a "soft" molt, gradually losing feathers over a longer period. Others experience a "hard" molt, losing a large amount of feathers seemingly overnight. The duration and intensity of the molt depend on genetics, age, nutrition, and the environment. Backyard flock owners should expect about eight weeks of feather loss and regrowth but could take up to 16 weeks for some birds.
Diet During Molting
The Importance of Protein
Feathers are primarily made of keratin, a protein. During molting, chickens need a diet rich in protein to support the growth of new feathers. A high-protein feed can significantly aid molting chickens with feather regrowth. Switching to a complete feed with at least 18% to 20% protein is recommended. Purina® Flock Raiser® is a great option for molting chicken feed.
Read also: The Hoxsey Diet
Recommended Foods and Supplements
- High-Protein Feed: Look for a layer ration with at least 16% protein, or switch to a meat bird ration at 18% protein.
- Mealworms: These are a fantastic source of protein and are rarely refused by chickens. Increased protein from mealworms can help chickens recover quicker from a stressful molt.
- Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Grubs): Marketed as grubs, these are rich in protein and have 50 times more calcium than mealworms.
- Black Oil Sunflower Seeds: Another excellent source of high protein.
- Lentils, Seeds, and Grains: Sprouting these increases the protein availability and makes them more digestible. Fermenting chicken feed also enhances protein availability.
- Backyard Boost Daily Essentials: A pelleted protein supplement designed to maximize digestibility and egg production, containing AO-Biotics® EQE to enhance egg quality.
Treats in Moderation
While it's tempting to overindulge your chickens with treats during molting, moderation is key. Too many treats, especially scratch grains, can dilute their protein intake from the layer ration.
Molt Muffin Recipe
Here’s a recipe for a protein-rich treat that can support your chickens during molting season:
Ingredients:
- Dry ingredients (mix of grains, seeds, etc.)
- Coconut oil
- Molasses
- Peanut butter
Instructions:
- Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl.
- Stir in the coconut oil and molasses.
- Add the peanut butter and mix well.
- Place one button in the center of each muffin cup, leaving the ends of the twine hanging over the sides of the muffin pan.
- Refrigerate the muffins until firm.
Grease the muffin cups instead of using paper liners.
Care During Molting
Reduce Stress
Molting is a stressful time for chickens, so minimizing additional stressors is essential.
- Maintain a Calm Environment: Keep their surroundings quiet and avoid making significant changes to their living conditions.
- Avoid Introducing New Animals: Do not introduce new chickens or other animals to the flock during this time.
- Stick to a Routine: Maintaining a consistent routine helps reduce stress.
Provide a Comfortable Environment
- Clean Living Area: Molting creates a mess, so keep their living area clean.
- Dust Baths: Provide access to dust baths to help chickens naturally control mites and lice.
- Extra Bedding: As the weather turns cooler, provide extra bedding like straw for nesting.
- Proper Ventilation: Ensure proper air ventilation in the coop.
Health and Hydration
- Regular Health Checks: Monitor your chickens' overall health and behavior.
- Fresh, Clean Water: Always provide fresh, clean water, as hydration is crucial for overall health and feather growth.
- Backyard Boost Defense: This liquid supplement supports digestion and a healthy immune response.
Handling with Care
During molt, the area where the feather shaft meets the skin can be very sensitive, so reduce handling and provide plenty of clean bedding. Provide enough space for your birds to rest and relax in private. Even your sweetest hens may avoid being near you or other chickens during their molt, as growing those feathers back out can be quite painful and irritating.
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Avoid Sweaters
Resist the urge to put sweaters on your molting chickens. While it may seem like a good idea to keep them warm, sweaters can actually cause more stress and discomfort.
Egg Production
Expect a decrease in egg production during molting, as the hens prioritize feather regrowth over laying eggs. Once the molt is complete, egg production should return to normal.
Transitioning Back to Layer Feed
When hens begin laying eggs again, gradually transition back to a complete layer feed. Mix the layer feed with the high-protein feed over 7-10 days to avoid digestive upsets.
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