Molting: what to expect

What molting is

Once a year, usually as days shorten in late summer and fall, adult hens drop old feathers and grow new ones. A hen's first big adult molt often happens in her second fall. Some hens lose a few feathers at a time; others look half-bald for a while. Both are normal.

Growing feathers takes a lot of protein, so most hens stop laying until they finish. Molts commonly last several weeks to a few months.

How to help

• Protein. Make sure their main feed is a complete layer feed. Some keepers switch to a higher-protein all-flock or grower feed during molt, with oyster shell on the side for calcium.
• Limit low-protein treats like scratch grains and bread, which fill them up without helping feathers grow.
• Handle gently. New feathers (pin feathers) have a blood supply and are sensitive. Pick hens up only when you need to.
• Keep stress low. This is not the time to add new birds or move the coop.
• Keep them dry if a cold snap hits mid-molt; good ventilation without drafts matters even more.

When it might be something else

Molt usually comes on in fall, affects most of the body over time, and new pin feathers show up as old ones fall. Look closer if you see:

• Feather loss with crawling bugs or eggs at the base of the feathers near the vent (mites or lice).
• Bare backs or heads from rough roosters or flock bullying.
• Feather loss along with sneezing, weight loss, diarrhea, or a hen that stops eating.

Check the health guide and call a poultry vet if a bird seems ill.