MOLTING: DON'T WORRY IT'S NORMAL!
by Guest Blogger Lisa Steele from Fresh Eggs Daily

Starting in the
early fall, you might have begun
noticing lots of feathers in your run and
panicked, fearing a predator attack, but most likely, your chickens are merely
going through their annual molt. This is the process during which the old,
dirty, broken feathers are replaced with new ones, leaving your chickens better
equipped to handle the winter cold with a set of clean, fluffy feathers.
Triggered by shorter fall days, the first molt occurs at about 18 months old,
and then annually after that.
Molting always
follows the same pattern, starting at the head and neck, then traveling down
the body to the tail. However each hen is different as to how quickly she
molts. Some hens, usually the better layers, molt extremely quickly, losing
large patches of feathers. They might continue to lay through the beginning of
the process, but generally stop once the molt reaches their backs. These fast
molters are often done in a few weeks and get right back to laying. Other hens,
generally poorer layers, molt more slowly. You might not even notice they are
molting, since the process happens so gradually, and can take several
months.

Regardless of
the speed at which your hens molt, they all benefit from added protein during
this period, since feathers are 80-90% protein. Good sources of protein include
eggs, meat scraps, cooked fish and meal-worms. Many herbs also contain high
levels of protein and can be fed either fresh or dried. Some of these include
basil, chervil, coriander, dill, fennel, marjoram, parsley, spearmint and
tarragon. Other plant-based proteins include alfalfa, broccoli, cauliflower,
cooked lentils, mung bean sprouts, oats, unsalted peanuts and spinach.

Molting is
uncomfortable for chickens and the new feather quills can bleed as they push
out the old ones, so try to minimize the handling of your hens during this
period. They may also be withdrawn and less active since growing new feathers
takes much of their energy and nutrients. Don’t despair at the sight of your
moth-eaten flock though, because once they are done molting, they will be
sporting gorgeous, new, glossy feathers - and their eggs will be larger as
well.
Great post. Very timely -- many folks are terrified at the site of this natural process, and I remember I was too at first. Thanks for the information.
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