Why is my chicken molting early?
Molt is driven by season and usually occurs in the fall when the hours of sunlight decrease. For our birds, fall means it’s time to prepare for winter, which requires quality feathers. That’s why hens take a vacation from laying eggs and redirect their energy to regrowing feathers.
How long does a chicken molt last for?
approximately 7 to 8 weeks
As the feathers mature, the waxy coating falls off or is removed as the chicken preens itself. The new feathers unfold and the vein dries up over time. A typical molt is approximately 7 to 8 weeks long, but anywhere from 4 to 12 weeks is considered normal.
How old do hens have to be to start molting?
Young hens less than twelve months will not molt for their first year. The following Fall they will start their molt. It’s usually somewhere between fifteen to eighteen months of age. Broody hens may molt after they are done with their chicks.
What does it mean when a chicken has a hard molt?
A hard molt leaves your hen looking like she went through a chicken plucker! She will have large areas of skin visible- some birds are almost bald in a hard molt. Make sure the coop is draft free so she can sit inside and be miserable, but warm if she wants. What is stress molting? Stress molting occurs when the birds are feeling stressed.
What can I do to help my chickens moult faster?
But you can help speed it up. We mentioned above that when chickens moult they require a lot of protein to make their new feathers. So the first thing you can do is stop feeding them layers pellets and give them food which has a higher percentage of protein in it.
What happens to chickens feathers when they moult?
In addition to their feathers dropping out, you will also notice that their comb will lose some of its colour and it won’t be a vibrant red any longer. Finally, during a moult you will notice that the amount of eggs they lay will greatly reduce and most likely stop all together.
But you can help speed it up. We mentioned above that when chickens moult they require a lot of protein to make their new feathers. So the first thing you can do is stop feeding them layers pellets and give them food which has a higher percentage of protein in it.
What happens to a chicken when it is molting?
Other physical changes which can occur include their combs appearing more dull in colour and their eyes can get a bit droopy. This is all very understandable when you realise that feathers are around 85% protein while eggs only 13%, so our feathered friends are putting a huge amount of energy into growing feathers.
What should I do if my hen loses her feathers?
In particular, monitor their protein intake. Feathers are almost entirely protein, containing about 85% beta-keratin. Lots of protein will go toward replacing feathers during the molt, which is why egg production drops when your chicken is trying to replace lost features (for any reason).
