Molting Hens

[mrsc1951]

Three of my girls have begun molting (again). Is it normal for them to molt during the summer months? They haven't been laying for a few weeks but I assumed it was due to the heat and the fact that they are 4+ years old. They all molted in November/December. Could this be something serious? I did just worm them a few weeks ago.

 

[Alyssa23]

I've never heard about molting before what is it

 

[Alyssa23]

Hi

 

[cluckcluckgirl]

It isn't normal, but I've heard of many flocks doing this recently and mine has too. I'd still check for parasites and hidden nests just in case.

 

[Alyssa23]

I'm New to the hole chicken thing. And I was wondering what molting is?

 

[mrsc1951]

Alyssa, molting is when the chickens lose their feathers.

They will usually molt in the fall/winter after they are a year old. It has always seemed to me that fall/winter was an odd time but that's what they do. During the time that they are shedding old feathers and growing new ones they do not lay eggs. It is a perfectly normal thing for them to do but this is the first time mine have ever molted in the middle of summer. Thanks Cluckcluck, I will check more closely for parasites, but have never had problems except with worms and as I indicated, I just wormed them a few weeks ago.

 

[cluckcluckgirl]

Alyssa, molting is when the chickens lose their feathers.

They will usually molt in the fall/winter after they are a year old. It has always seemed to me that fall/winter was an odd time but that's what they do. During the time that they are shedding old feathers and growing new ones they do not lay eggs. It is a perfectly normal thing for them to do but this is the first time mine have ever molted in the middle of summer. Thanks Cluckcluck, I will check more closely for parasites, but have never had problems except with worms and as I indicated, I just wormed them a few weeks ago.

Yep. They molt at spring and before winter to replace damaged or lost feathers. Hens rely on sunlight a lot to let their bodies know when is the time to molt. One thing I noticed too (you mentioned your hens are 4+ years old) is my older hens had a different molting schedule.

 

[cluckcluckgirl]

I'm New to the hole chicken thing. And I was wondering what molting is?

Yep. There's also many GREAT articles here on BYC about molting and many other subjects. Questions are a good way to learn, so don't be ashamed to ask them.

 

[k2edwards]

Two questions come to mid;

1. I feed my Hens Dumor Poultry Layer Pellets. Should I supplement their feed during this molting period?

2. Do the Hens eat shed feathers in the coup or should I clean them out?

 

[aart]

Two questions come to mid;

1. I feed my Hens Dumor Poultry Layer Pellets. Should I supplement their feed during this molting period?

2. Do the Hens eat shed feathers in the coup or should I clean them out?

1. Yes, they need more protein to grow those new feathers. Mealworms, meat scraps, eggs, etc.

2. They will eat shed feathers, and sometimes pick new ones off their flock mates to eat, if they are low on protein.


I like to feed a 'flock raiser' 20% protein crumble to all ages and genders, as non-layers(chicks, males and molting birds) do not need the extra calcium that is in layer feed and chicks and molters can use the extra protein. Makes life much simpler to store and distribute one type of chow that everyone can eat.

The higher protein crumble also offsets the 8% protein scratch grains and other kitchen/garden scraps I like to offer.

Calcium should be available at all times for the layers, I use oyster shell mixed with rinsed, dried, crushed chicken egg shells in a separate container.

Animal protein (mealworms, a little cheese - beware the salt content, meat scraps) is provided during molting and if I see any feather eating.