How To Help Chickens Through Molting

Every year chickens will lose all their feathers before growing new ones! Molting can take a toll on chickens so here are some ways you can help chickens through the molting process.

For first time chicken keepers molting can be frightening because your chickens look like they are sick! I will be the first to say a molting chicken looks like a dying chicken.

Molting is hard for chickens and their new set of feathers will have to last them a whole year.

Because of this, you should ensure your chickens are getting proper care so they can grow healthy feathers while staying healthy. Here are my best tips to help your chickens through molting.

Give Your Chickens A High Protein Diet

Chicken feathers are 90% keratin which is the same protein that our hair and nails are made of. In order to make keratin chickens need lots of protein.

When your chickens start to molt you can supplement their protein by moving to a high protein feed. These feeds are often called feather fixer feed.

Normal egg layer rations have 16% protein while feather fixer feeds have around 20% protein. You can also supplement their diet with high protein snacks like the ones below.

• Mealworms
• Dried Soldier Fly Larvae
• Sprouted lentils (and other sprouted grains)
• Worms
• Organs and meat scraps

Keep Your Chickens Warm And Draft Free

Chickens usually molt during the fall when temperatures are bearable for them, however if you have a cold snap you need to keep your chickens warm.

While you should not heat your coop during the winter heating your coop during molt is okay. In winter you chickens can stay warm with their feathers, but when they are molting they lose this ability.

I normally don’t have to add supplemental heat, but if you get a cold snap you may have too. Watch for signs like shivering or huddling together to see if your chickens need more warmth.

Keep Your Chickens From Pecking Each Other

Chickens are more likely to peck and hurt each other when they have an open wound or are molting. When they molt their skin becomes visible and the other chickens will start pecking.

You don’t want to have your chickens pecking at each other because this can lead to cannibalism in the flock!

To keep my chickens busy I use these boredom busters for my flock. This keeps my flock occupied so they don’t hurt each other.

Provide Shade For Your Chickens

Your chickens should always have access to shade, but it is extremely important while they are molting. Molting chickens have exposed skin that can be susceptible to sunburn.

My chickens have plenty of trees they can find shade under. If you don’t have shade in your chicken coop I recommend you build a shade structure.

Limit Stress

Your chickens will need some time to fully replenish their feathers and this takes a lot of work. Make sure you are providing the best environment for your chickens.

Keep their water clean and full, make sure they have enough food, and separate any chickens that continue pecking at each other.

If a chicken does get an open wound use chicken first aid. I would also refrain from holding and petting your chickens during molt because their skin and feathers are sensitive.

Your chickens may be a little skittish during molt and this is entirely normal.

Make Sure Your Chickens Are Dust Bathing

Chickens need a dust bath to keep their feathers healthy. They also use a dust bath to help their new feathers come in and grow properly.

My chickens will make their own dust bath wherever they choose. They find a patch of dirt and eventually make it a pit they can dust bathe in.

If your chickens don’t have a spot for dust bathing you can make them one in your chicken coop.

A Note About Supplemental Light

I used to put a light in my chicken coop before the days got short enough that the chickens stopped laying eggs. This would keep my chickens laying even though the days were shorter.

I would normally leave the light in until the end of November, but this was a bad idea. This kept my chickens from molting in the fall and it caused them to molt during cold weather.

If you are going to give your chickens supplemental light make sure you keep it in all winter or put a light in after they are done molting in the fall.

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