Backyard chickens often begin molting in the fall. Molting lasts eight to twelve weeks and can cause a decrease in egg production. A high-protein feed can help molting chickens with feather regrowth.
 
For backyard chickens across the country, shorter days often signal it’s time to slow down. Birds may lay less eggs, lose old feathers and experience feather regrowth. This annual transition is called molt.
 
Molting is driven by seasonal changes and usually occurs in the fall. When the hours of sunlight decrease, our birds know it’s time to prepare for winter, which requires quality feathers. That’s why hens slow down egg production and redirect their energy to feather regrowth.

How long do chickens molt?

Backyard flock owners should expect about eight weeks of feather loss and regrowth, but this process could take up to sixteen weeks for some birds. This feather loss phenomenon first happens around eighteen months old. The onset and length of molt will look different for each bird.
 
You may notice your birds’ feathers starting to look duller. Hens may then gradually lose a few feathers, or it may seemingly happen overnight. Many factors, like age, specific breed, nutrition and the environment, all contribute to how long a chicken molts. We’ve noticed that more productive egg-layers and younger hens recover from molt more quickly than older or less productive hens. In any case, proper nutrients and management can help birds through molt.

Three tips for molting chickens

1. Pack the protein

Just like humans, birds need a different diet depending on their current activity or life stage. During the molting season, protein is the key nutrient for feather regrowth in a flock’s diet. This is because feathers are made of 80-85% protein, whereas eggshells are primarily calcium.
 

When you notice your chickens losing feathers, switch to a complete feed with 19% protein that also includes probiotics, prebiotics and key vitamins and minerals. Purina^® Layena^® 19% High Protein Layer Feed is a great option for molting hens. A high-protein complete feed helps hens channel nutrients into feather regrowth and get back to laying eggs.

2. Keep stress low

When seasons begin to change, people generally want to stay cozy and relax. It isn’t so different inside the coop during molting. Keep your flock comfortable by preventing stress.
 
During molt, the area where the feather shaft meets the skin can be very sensitive, so reduce handling and provide plenty of clean bedding. Your birds need time to rest, so offer enough space for the flock to relax in private. For each bird, four square feet inside the coop and square feet outside of the coop is ideal for their comfort.
 
In addition, provide access to plenty of fresh, clean water and proper air ventilation. Hydration and ventilation can help keep the backyard coop more conducive to feather regrowth. Avoid introducing new flock members during this time, as adding in new friends and potentially re-shuffling the pecking order could add unnecessary stress.

3. Feed transition — or not

When your hens return to regular egg-laying work, choose the right feed for your flock’s needs. This could mean remaining on the higher protein feed or transitioning back to a complete layer feed — it’s completely up to you. If you decide to return to their regular feed, gradually combine it with the high-protein feed over seven to ten days. This can help avoid digestive upsets and allow birds to get used to the taste and texture of their new feed.
 
Once your hens have vibrant new feathers, more frequent farm fresh eggs are likely on the way.

Want more flock advice from our experts? Download our free e-book for tips on raising strong hens.