Can molting bring stress to my ladies?

[Michael Apple]

Rather than just increasing protein levels in feed that may not be digestible, it is best to use a moult supplement consisting of digestible proteins which contain adequate levels Methionine and Lysine. Biotin, and other B vitamins, A,D,E are all important during moult. It is a hassle free way of ensuring these are available by professional formulators rather than purchasing the lab equipment necessary for testing food stuffs to make sure they have adequate amounts. I have little confidence in large commercial feeds based upon what I have seen over 30 years. All one needs to do is look at FDA recall lists to see adequate amounts of nutrients are not always present, among other things, in livestock feeds which can present problems.

 

[SammyRouen]

I have a ten (10) YEAR old duck (got her as a duckling) who I have never helped aid her molt because I never really did any research on poultry before I added chickens to my life just this spring. She doesn't seem any different during molt except for her little chicken wings when she looses her feathers! Appearently she's fine and can deal with it herself, don't know if its different in chickens...

 

[TeaChick]

I've heard beef liver is really good for that.

Hope they're all doing better soon!

 

[crazy coops]

My young flock had their first molt this year and it was noticeably hard on them. Besides the obvious of looking terrible (some birds had a train wreck molt and lost nearly every feather at once) their energy level was down and they weren't foraging like usual. I mixed a little Calf-Manna Performance supplement with their feed every few days and before I knew it my birds were back to their normal selves and new feathers were coming in fast. I've used the Calf-Manna supplement for horses and calves with great results but this was my first time using it with poultry. I won't be without it again during molting season!

 

[Terry S]

I give my girls scrambled eggs. They love them and since they don't look like what they lay, it is ok.

 

[samnjoeysgrama]

My mother is 87 and when she was young, they lived on a large farm. My farm is much smaller, but I still get lots of good advice from her on chickens. Because Grandpa milked about 20 cows, they always had extra milk, even after they sold most of it. Chickens love sour milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, etc. It's a great source of protein and if you buy "live" yogurt (especially Greek style) you can make your own very easily and they get the gut benefit as well. The idea of feeding them "Fish Chow" (Purina actually calls their fish food that) is brilliant. I have fed it to trout and I know it floats, so I think I might soak it for my girls first. I am going to incorporate it into my big treat block I make for them, too.

 

[Shimmana]

My girls seem to really enjoy lots of greens when molting. I also give them meal worms.

 

[pbr56]

My chickens have NOT started molting yet. They have been laying about a 13 months. Winter is coming. I am getting stressed.
What happens when the molt and it is cold outside? I live in Maine.

 

[davep763]

Our Buff Orpington is just about done molting but she's not really getting her color back in her crown/waddle. She's eating and acting normally (although not laying) and I'm not really concerned about the color, but should I be?

Thanks!

 

[5raven5]

Molting does stress your chickens. They don't like to be picked up or touched much because when the feathers are growing back it hurts.
Here are some links for some excellent information about what you can feed your chickens to help them during their molting season:
http://www.fresh-eggs-daily.com/2014/08/molt-busting-mealworm-granola-bites.html
http://www.fresh-eggs-daily.com/2014/09/25-sources-of-plant-protein-for-molting.html
http://www.fresh-eggs-daily.com/2012/07/molt-meatloaf.html