Topic of the Week - Managing Your Chickens' Molt

[lasallefamily]

This is our first fall with full-grown chickens. (Our first egg was laid on Halloween last year.) I thought they were dying. All their feathers are coming out and they stopped laying eggs. I didn't know what to tell the kids (they are pets - Maddie, Luna, and Sophie). I am SO happy to learn that they are not dying. lol How long does it take for their feathers to grow back and for them to start laying eggs again?

 

[lasallefamily]

How long does it take for their feathers to grow back and for them to start laying eggs again? (I guess... how long does "molt season" last?)

 

[Chickenheadmate]

I boost the dried black fly larvae and dried crickets. More protein all winter! If one gets pecked at I add Vaseline to the area. Usually the guilty pecker (lol) will get a taste of that and leave it alone.

Why does the pecker peck a molting hen?

 

[Liz Birdlover]

Why does the pecker peck a molting hen?

Some chickens will peck anything they see that seems out of the ordinary, so an odd feather sticking up like an Alfalfa cowlick is something worth pecking at lol

 

[Vicker]

The chickens I have raised over the past 16 years have rarely gone through a heavy molt. Recently, a few of my Black Australorps lost feathers only on the front of their necks. Strange that the same breed lost feathers only in that one spot. I didn't see any parasites or witness any plucking. They're filling back in now. The humidity and heat index have been oppressive over the past few weeks. Egg production has been down. I wonder if the feather loss was due to heat stress.

 

[Folly's place]

Heat stress is always a thing, true. And birds molt at different times, and lenght of molt varies. Feed matters! A 20% protein feed helps with feather growth rather than the minimum 16% layer feed.
Breed matters too; genetics in action! Having birds of different breeds helps to have some molting while others aren't.
I've read that when selection for higher egg production, birds who molt later in fall, and who molt faster, will be higher egg producers over a year. Not something I've tried or evaluated here.
Mary

 

[GC-Raptor]

How long does it take for their feathers to grow back and for them to start laying eggs again? (I guess... how long does "molt season" last?)

When I was feeding an 18% Protein feed my Barred Rocks quit laying for about 5 weeks on average and molt completion about 6 weeks average.
My Golden Comets slowed laying, but never stopped and they did a slow molt over a few months.
My 4 ISA Browns (16 months old) have also started a slow molt without slowing egg production yet, 27/28 weekly.
They are on a 16% Protein layer feed.

My Pullets (4 months old tomorrow) are still on a Starter-Grower feed 18%.

Chickens in my climate eat about 50% more feed during winter season so they are consuming 50% more Protein that's in a 16% feed.
So they are eating 24 Grams of Protein daily in winter compared to 18 Grams during summer season.
Egg production slows during a slow molt or stops during a hard molt.
So they save 6 to 8 Grams of Protein daily if they aren't laying an egg. Large egg 6 Grams of protein, Jumbo 8 Grams.
So between the extra feed consumption 50% more and not laying during a hard molt, they have 12 to 14 Grams of extra Protein daily for feather regrowth.
No need to feed a higher Protein feed during molting in my opinion.
I will see how my ISA Browns do during their molt on a 16% feed.
My Pullets will get transitioned to a Layer feed when one of each breed start to lay after 18 weeks. GC

 

[Jrobb78]

I have 3 hens and 3 chicks that are now 8 weeks old. I have had the whole flock on the chick starter/grower with oyster shell on the side. My older girls are molting now, are the chicks old enough to eat all flock if I mix it with the remaining starter?

 

[Folly's place]

Most all flock feeds, and unmedicated starter feeds, are fine for everyone.
What do the labels say on the feed bags?
Mary

 

[Jrobb78]

Most all flock feeds, and unmedicated starter feeds, are fine for everyone.
What do the labels say on the feed bags?
Mary

I have no idea as I’m not at the store. That’s why I was asking here! I live in the country and it’s a bit of a drive for me, so I’m trying to educate myself first. This is my first time having chicks along with adult birds, so I’m learning a lot!