Lucas Delgado
Chickens usually moult in the fall, but sometimes they can start moulting in the winter. This process can be uncomfortable and even painful, and it can also cause a decrease in egg production. To help your chickens through this process, you should reduce their stress levels by avoiding moving them to new living quarters or introducing new flock members. You can also provide them with high-protein treats such as mealworms, dried grubs, sunflower seeds, peanuts, meat scraps, fish, or shellfish to promote feather regrowth.
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What You'll Learn
Provide a high-protein diet
During molting, chickens require extra protein to support feather regrowth. Feathers are made of 80-85% protein, and feather production places great demands on a chicken's energy and nutrient reserves. Therefore, it is essential to provide your molting chickens with a high-protein diet to ensure they have the necessary nutrients for healthy feather growth.
One option for increasing protein intake is to switch to a complete feed with at least 20% protein. Game-bird feed and broiler rations contain higher protein levels and can be used during molting to boost protein intake. Purina® Flock Raiser® is a high-protein complete feed that can help hens channel nutrients into feather regrowth. For organic flocks, Purina® Organic Starter-Grower can be used during molting to maintain organic status and provide a higher level of nutrition.
In addition to commercial feeds, there are several protein-rich foods that can be offered as treats to supplement your chicken's diet during molting. Scrambled eggs are an excellent source of protein for chickens and can be fed directly to the flock or added to their feed. Another option is dried mealworms or black soldier fly larvae, which can be mixed with their feed or offered as a separate treat. Sunflower hearts or dehusked sunflower seeds are also a simple and easily accessible supplement to offer your chickens.
It is important to note that while protein is crucial during molting, too much can be harmful to a chicken's health. Therefore, treats outside of their daily feed should be kept to a minimum, and it is recommended to follow the 90/10 rule, with 90% commercial feed and 10% snacks or fresh table scraps. Additionally, the amount of protein required will vary depending on the age and activity level of your chickens, so it is important to adjust their diet accordingly.
By providing a high-protein diet and ensuring your chickens have a comfortable and stress-free environment during molting, you can help support their feather regrowth and overall health.
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Reduce stress
Molting is a natural process that chickens go through annually, usually in the fall, to shed old feathers and grow new ones. While molting, chickens may experience discomfort and increased sensitivity, particularly in the area where the feather shaft meets the skin. Here are some ways to reduce their stress during this process:
Maintain a Comfortable Environment
Provide your chickens with a clean, spacious, and well-ventilated coop. Ensure that the coop is adequately insulated to protect them from the cold winter temperatures. You can also offer extra bedding for added warmth and comfort. While it may be tempting to bring your chickens indoors, this is not recommended due to the risk of spreading pathogens and the difficulty of transitioning them back outside. Instead, focus on making their coop as cozy as possible.
Minimize Handling
Limit your handling of molting chickens to avoid causing them pain and keep their stress levels down. If you need to handle them, do so gently and only when necessary. Chickens are social creatures, so consider moving their coop mates closer to provide companionship and snuggling opportunities.
Avoid Significant Changes
Try not to introduce any major changes during the molting period. This includes refraining from moving them to new living quarters or adding new flock members. Maintaining a stable environment will help reduce their stress and allow them to focus their energy on feather regrowth.
Provide High-Protein Treats
Offer your molting chickens high-protein treats such as mealworms, dried grubs, sunflower seeds, peanuts, meat scraps, fish, or shellfish. These treats will provide the extra nutrients needed for feather regrowth and help your chickens stay strong during the winter. You can also supplement their diet with nutritional yeast, which is known to aid in the growth of new feathers.
Maintain a Balanced Diet
While high-protein treats are beneficial, ensure that no more than 5% of their daily dietary intake consists of treats. Too much protein from non-chicken feed sources can lead to an imbalance of amino acids. A complete feed with 20% protein, probiotics, prebiotics, and key vitamins and minerals is ideal for supporting your chickens' overall health during molting.
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Limit handling
Molting is a natural process of shedding old feathers and growing new ones. Chickens usually molt in late summer or early autumn, but sometimes they can start molting in the winter. This process can be uncomfortable and even painful, so it is important to take steps to reduce their stress and make them as comfortable as possible.
One way to help chickens through molting is to limit handling. Handling a molting chicken can be painful for them, and it can also increase their stress levels. It is best to leave them where they are and provide them with a comfortable space to rest. If you must handle them, try to minimise the amount of contact and avoid touching the areas where the feathers are missing.
In addition to limiting handling, it is important to provide a stress-free environment for molting chickens. Avoid moving them to new living quarters or introducing new flock members during this time. Keep them in a warm and dry area, protected from the cold and snow. Make sure they have enough space to rest and relax, with clean bedding and access to fresh water at all times.
You can also help molting chickens by providing them with a high-protein diet to support feather regrowth. Offer high-energy, high-protein treats such as mealworms, dried grubs, sunflower seeds, peanuts, meat scraps, fish, or shellfish. A complete feed with 20% protein, probiotics, prebiotics, and key vitamins and minerals can also help ensure they are getting the nutrients they need.
By limiting handling, reducing stress, providing a comfortable environment, and offering a high-protein diet, you can help your chickens get through the molting process more easily, even during the winter months.
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Offer extra warmth
While molting is a natural process for chickens, occurring annually, it can be a challenging time for them, especially during the winter months. Here are some ways to offer extra warmth to your chickens during this time:
Insulation and Ventilation
Ensure that your chicken coop is well-insulated and adequately ventilated. This will help maintain a comfortable temperature for your chickens, protecting them from the harsh winter cold. Insulation can be in the form of straw or other bedding materials that provide warmth and comfort. Just remember to keep the bedding clean!
Supplemental Heat
While chickens are generally resilient, in extremely cold temperatures, providing supplemental heat can be beneficial. This can be achieved by using safe heating sources such as heating lamps or pads specifically designed for poultry. It is important to ensure that the heat source does not become a fire hazard and is used sparingly to avoid disrupting the chickens' natural acclimatization.
Space for Snuggling
Chickens often seek warmth and comfort by snuggling with their flock mates. Provide ample space in the coop for your chickens to huddle together. If possible, place friendly chickens on either side of the molting chicken to help keep them warm and reduce their stress. This social interaction can be comforting and help them retain body heat.
Chicken Sweaters and Aprons
Although it may seem unconventional, chicken sweaters or aprons can provide extra warmth for molting chickens. These garments are designed to cover the chicken's body, helping them retain heat and protect against frostbite. Just be cautious not to cause them stress by handling them too much when putting on the sweaters.
High-Protein Diet
Feathers are primarily composed of protein, so increasing your molting chicken's protein intake can aid in feather regrowth. Offer high-protein treats such as mealworms, dried grubs, sunflower seeds, peanuts, meat scraps, fish, or shellfish. Additionally, consider switching to a high-protein chicken feed or supplementing their diet with nutritional boosters like Molt Mender.
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Check for mites and lice
Mites and lice are a natural part of every backyard. They can travel on birds, rodents, and other animals. Being able to identify each type of external parasite is not important, but recognizing the signs and symptoms of an infestation is crucial. Mites and lice will not be repelled by herbs, and food-grade diatomaceous earth should not be used with chickens as it is hazardous to their health.
To check for mites and lice, you should perform monthly or bi-monthly flock inspections of each chicken to identify and address parasites before an infestation worsens. Some common signs of any type of mite or lice infestation in a chicken are:
- Dirty-looking vent feathers
- Decreased activity or listlessness
- Pale comb
- Changes in appetite
- Weight loss
- Feather-pulling
- Bald spots
- Redness or scabs on the skin
- Dull, ragged-looking feathers
- Crawling bugs on a chicken's skin or nits on feathers
The two most common categories of external parasites in chickens are mites and poultry lice. Poultry lice are fast-moving, 6-legged, flat insects with round heads that live only on the chicken and its feathers. They are typically found at the base of feather shafts near the vent and feed on dead skin and other debris. The eggs laid by the female are seen at the bases of feather shafts. Typical signs of a mite infestation are scabs near the vent, eggs on the feathers and feather shafts, and a light-colored bird's feathers may appear dirty in spots where the mites have left droppings and debris.
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Frequently asked questions
It is normal for chickens to molt during winter. To help them through the process, you can provide them with a high-protein diet to aid in feather regrowth. You can also reduce their stress levels by not moving them to a new living space or introducing new flock members.
Molting duration varies depending on age, nutrition, and environment. On average, molting takes 7-8 weeks, but it can range from 4 to 16 weeks.
It is not advisable to bring a molting chicken indoors during winter. The temperature transition when returning them to the coop can be challenging, and they may spread pathogens like salmonella. Instead, provide them with extra bedding and space to rest and limit handling to reduce pain and stress.
