Molting Season

Oof some of the hens are starting to look rough

You know what time it is? Less daylight, cooler temps?

It’s molting season!!!

Fear not, this is a completely natural and healthy part of the chicken life cycle. Every end of summer/early autumn, chickens start their seasonal molt. A few of our girls look WRECKED during this time, like something plucked all their feathers off at once, whereas others you can barely tell. Regardless ,they’re all molting in some capacity or another.

This process is important for prepping their bodies for the cold weather seasons. New and thicker feathers emerge just in time for a significant dip in overnight temps, but this process takes a lot out of the chickens.

To help your flock through their molt, increase their protein intake with treats like mealworms or black oil sunflower seeds (our flock favorite). Make sure treats don’t exceed 10% of their diet.

Also make sure they have continual access to fresh, clean water. Monitor for anyone having issues with pin feathers (the hard comb feathers emerge from) and check daily for any skin issues like mites or lice.

Coop cleanliness and managing all the loose feathers can be challenging during this time, but ultimately it will help your chickens feel better more quickly. Don’t be surprised if egg production slows or even stops during this period, it is a very challenging and demanding season on the birds!

We usually get close to 2 dozen eggs a day but during a molt season that drops to around 6-8 eggs a day instead. A molt doesn’t last too long, usually 2 months or so depending on the individual, but the more support you’re able to provide your flock the easier it’ll be on everyone.