Hens are 1 year old. Possible Molt?

[anthonyjames]

My egg production has gone down drastically and looking at some of my hens it seems that they are losing their feathers and down starting from the vent. Could this be the start of a molt? If so how long does it last?

 

[TurkeyMountainChickens]

It sounds like molting is your problem. How long it last varies with breed and strain. Some birds loose most of their feathers at once and then grow them back rapidly - just a few weeks. Others loose only a few at a time, which means the whole process can take a couple of months.

While they are molting, try giving them some extra protein supplements (bugs, BOSS, etc.). Feathers use a lot of protein to make, so extra might help them along.

 

[silkiechick05]

My girl is about a year and she just went through a little bit of molt.