The beginning of shorter days and cooler nights means two things around our place, the onset of Fall and molt season. Now, almost through this process, my poor gals are still looking pretty rough around the edges; the coop is full of discarded feathers, so many you’d think there was a massacre!

I’ve learned, over the years, chickens go through ‘the change’ this time every year. Out with the old and in with the new; what a fascinating process! It begins at the head and neck, then moves to the saddle. The breast, abdomen, wings follow next and finally the tail. The shaft of the feather grows first, similar looking to a porcupine, then the plumage grows out from that; how neat is that?!

Molting can be a painful process and can take a lot out of the gals, so try not to pick them up during this time. Try to keep stress to a minimum as well.

During this time, egg production stops as the girls need all their energy to reproduce new feathers. I do my best to help them during this time by providing extra protein. Scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, yogurt, broccoli, tuna, pumpkin & sunflower seeds and mealworms are all great snacks to help provide the extra protein they so desperately need. 

So far, over the years, our molts have not been as severe; my gals have tended not to molt heavily. 

But check out one of Cindy’s gals, Iris (Chocolate English Orpington), from Baking and Eggs (Baking and Eggs | Facebook). She’s had a rough go this year! 

After molting has come to an end, egg production will remain low until spring. Shorter days and lack of sunlight contribute to that as well. But it’s a much-needed winter break ‘holiday’ for the girls after a long egg-laying season and an energy drawing molt. It’s ‘me time’ for the chickens. So make them as cozy as you can during the winter months and look forward to the joys of spring.

Want to learn more about molting? Check out these links :)

What Is Molting in Backyard Chickens? – Fresh Eggs Daily®

When Chickens Are Molting, Feathers Fly Everywhere – Hobby Farms