Molting is a natural process that chickens go through periodically to shed old, worn out feathers and grow new plumage. But what exactly triggers this process and causes a chicken to lose its feathers? There are several factors that can induce molting in chickens
Common Causes of Molting in Chickens
Shortening Daylength
The most common cause of molting is decreasing day length as seasons change from summer to fall. Chickens are sensitive to light and their bodies are hormonally programmed to molt when daylight hours shorten in late summer or early fall. This prepares them for winter by allowing them to grow new, thicker feathers for insulation against the cold.
Frequency: Daylength is cited as the primary cause of molting in most sources, indicating it is the most common trigger.
End of Egg Laying Cycle
Molting is also tied to the end of an egg laying cycle. After consecutive months of high egg production a hen’s body needs to rest and regenerate. Molting allows reproductive organs to repair in preparation for the next egg laying cycle.
Frequency: The end of an egg laying cycle is frequently mentioned along with decreasing daylength as a key reason chickens molt.
Stress
Stressors like relocation, introduction of new chickens, predators, or loud noises can all cause a chicken to molt. Stress induces hormonal changes that lead to feather loss. This is an adaptive response, as stressed chickens grow new camouflaging plumage to protect themselves.
Frequency: Stress is cited in most sources as a potential cause of molting in chickens.
Poor Nutrition
Diets deficient in nutrients, especially protein, can lead to premature molting. Feathers are over 80% protein so adequate dietary protein is essential for normal feather growth and replacement.
Frequency: Lack of protein is mentioned in the majority of sources as a factor that can spur early, excessive, or prolonged molts.
Disease/Illness
Sickness puts stress on the body, leading some chickens to molt. Certain viral, bacterial, and fungal infections can also directly attack developing feathers and cause abnormal molts.
Frequency: Illness is listed as a potential molt trigger in about half of sources.
Extreme Heat
Heat stress can cause chickens to molt early as their bodies attempt to cool down by shedding insulating feathers. However, this leaves them unprotected for winter.
Frequency: A few sources cite extreme heat as an occasional cause of untimely molts.
Hormonal Imbalances
Tumors, cysts, or dysfunctions involving the pituitary gland, thyroid, ovaries, and other hormone-regulating organs can lead to irregular molting activity.
Frequency: Hormonal issues are only mentioned in a couple sources, indicating they are a less common reason for abnormal molts.
Genetics
Some chicken breeds and individual birds are genetically predisposed to molt frequently, rapidly, or under certain conditions. Molting tendencies can be passed down.
Frequency: Genetics are cited as a potential factor in a minority of sources.
When Do Chickens Normally Molt?
Chickens generally molt once per year. The most common time for molting is from late summer to early fall, when the days are getting shorter. Some breeds and individuals of chickens may molt more than once, especially when they are under a lot of stress.
Chicks molt several times in their first year while juveniles. After that, hens typically molt annually in conjunction with the changing seasons. Roosters may molt more frequently than hens, up to two or three times per year.
The onset, duration, and completeness of molting can vary between individual chickens. Molts usually last 10-12 weeks but can persist longer depending on health, diet, and other factors.
Tips for Helping Chickens Through the Molting Process
While molting is natural, there are ways you can support your chickens to make it easier on them:
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Reduce stress by limiting disturbances in their environment during the molt.
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Provide extra protein, ideally 20% or more in feed. Supplement with high protein foods like mealworms.
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Offer dietary supplements such as vitamin E, omega-3s, and zinc to support feather regrowth.
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Give access to dust bathing areas to help condition skin and new pin feathers.
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Ensure adequate light. At least 8 hours per day maintains healthy hormone levels.
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Prevent drafts on naked chickens while new feathers grow.
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Separate molting chickens from flock if they are getting picked on.
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Check for parasites like mites that may hamper feather regrowth.
With some extra care and patience for chickens during molting periods, they’ll soon be sporting a new coat of feathers! Paying attention to causes and timing of molts in your flock will help you address any issues and support normal feather replacement.
Hey everybody! Thank you for spending a few minutes with me. I don’t know about you or where you live but we are enjoying some cooler and less humid days as we journey into autumn and I am so grateful.
Summer on the farm is HOT, humid, long, busy and hot. Did I mention hot? It is hot. VERY hot. And when I’m hot so are the cows, chickens and pigs. And if I need a drink of water they definitely need a drink of water. So, during the summer, there is a lot of watering, feeding, moving to new pasture, and general hard work. Plus garden and canning work. Which is why I’m so grateful when I see summer going away, taking with it the heat and humidity.
Autumn ushers in a time of rest. Rest for the humans, rest for the land and rest for the chickens. Around Labor Day each year adult chickens begin their molt. What is THE MOLT you ask? That’s when they lose their old feathers and grow new feathers (you’ll see feathers laying around everywhere but don’t be frightened – this is natural). The process is boring and takes 12 weeks. I’m sure that’s not what they want to do for those 12 weeks. I’m sure it’s a little painful for those weeks to actually grow feathers – I imagine it’s like your kids’ teething. Some of our chickens get a little grumpy and moody but for the most part they’re okay with it. They always seem happy with the result and they do look smashing with the new, improved feathers! .
So why do they molt? Chickens molt for their health. Their skin needs to be protected from the elements and the feathers do just that. Chickens’ feathers help keep them warm in the winter, cool in the summer and are pretty much completely water-proof. But in order to be waterproof and the best they can be, the chickens need to get rid of the old feathers and grow new ones.
When do they molt? Chickens go through multiple molts in their lives – from losing their baby “downy” feathers at about 2 weeks of age on. But the major molts for their lives begin usually around 15-18 months of age and will happen each year when the temperatures get a little cooler and hours of sunlight decrease. That’s usually in the early fall. And that’s a gift from God because then they are done with their molt just in time for the cold weather and snow of winter. Isn’t He amazing??? Just like Jesus said and Matthew recorded in Matthew 6:25-26, God takes care of even the birds. The exact time of your chickens’ molt might differ slightly depending on where you live but here in East Tennessee, as I said before, the molt usually begins around the first of September. In commercial poultry farming operations many producers force the molt by removing food and light from their flock for 7-14 days which stresses their bodies into molting. This is obviously a cruel and terrifying practice which has been banned in many countries around the world (but not here in the USA). It’s yet another reason you need to know where your food comes from and how what you’re eating lived and was raised. Here at Bales Farms we would NEVER starve or withhold nutrients from an animal (human or nonhuman). As a matter of fact Marshall lost first place in a chicken show a few years ago because Miss Blue was “a little overweight”. We were told to put her on a diet before the next beauty pageant. THANKFULLY Miss Blue did not hear those condemning words and she is continuing her life as a retired beauty queen on pasture enjoying all the grass, bugs and fruits and veggies she wants.
So what do you do when your girls are in the molting process? Well when they are molting chickens need all the protein they can get, really, because it takes a lot of protein and nutrients to grow actual feathers. They will decrease their activity level, and in my experience, their food and water intake as well. But keep everything available because they do need food and water during this season of life. They need to be able just to rest and recuperate.
Chickens won’t lay eggs during the molt (or at least will lay about 90% less). You’ll need patience for the 8-12 weeks of the molt (I put the 8 in there even though for us it’s ALWAYS 12 weeks) because you won’t get any eggs. It takes a lot to grow new feathers! BE PATIENT! And kind. Kindness matters in life. To humans and chickens.
And then as the beauty of autumn gives way to the chills of winter you will start to see beautiful, healthy chickens who are excited and full of energy. You’ll have a slight increase in egg production and everybody will be happy happy happy.
So that’s the easy and simple answer to the molting question. Chickens need it for their health. And if you’re patient there will be eggs at the end of the molt.
Thanks for spending a few minutes with me. Let me know if you have any questions!
Dealing with Chickens Molting
FAQ
Why do chickens molt?
Plumage renewal – During the course of a year, the plumage becomes dull and shabby. It’s common for chicken feathers to break. This might not be a big deal in the summer, but when winter comes, the feathers can’t keep the chicken warm enough. Thus, molting is a natural process that sheds old feathers and grows a new coat.
Why should you keep your chickens busy when molting?
By keeping your chickens busy when they are molting, it will help to keep their mind off of the painful molting that they are going through. It will also help to prevent them from becoming bored and begin pecking at each others feathers.
How often do chickens molt?
Most chickens molt once a year, but if the chicken is sick or stressed, it may happen more often. There are three steps to a chicken’s molting process. First, they rest. Then they lose their feathers. Finally, they rest again and grow new ones. The chicken molting time varies from one chicken to another and from breed to breed.
Do chickens lose a lot of feathers during a molt?
AT A TIME. ALL AT ONCE. BACK SLOWLY. BACK QUICKLY. AGAIN. AFTER MOLTING. During a soft molt, a chicken may lose just a few feathers at a time. The whole molting process is much slower with a slow molt and can take several months to grow in a whole new set of feathers. During a hard molt, a chicken will lose a lot of feathers all at once.
Is molting a stressful time for chickens?
Molting is indeed a stressful time for chickens. As they shed and new feathers begin to grow, they undergo a messy and uncomfortable process. Molting hurts at times, especially when a chicken goes through a hard molt. New pinfeathers emerging can be painful, making their skin sensitive.
How do you know if a chicken is molting?
There is nothing visible at the bottom except for some feathers regrowing, which means the chicken is molting. If you do not see parasites, look in the coop for any hiding places for red mites, which feed during the night and hide during the day. A loss of feathers throughout your flock could also be a sign of parasites.
What triggers a chicken to molt?
… for their lives begin usually around 15-18 months of age and will happen each year when the temperatures get a little cooler and hours of sunlight decreaseSep 13, 2024
How do you treat molting chickens?
The key nutrient that will help your flock during molting is protein. Your chicken’s feathers are actually made up of 80-85 percent of protein. When you start seeing signs of chicken molting, like losing feathers, you can switch to a complete feed with around 20% protein.
What months do chickens molt?
Chickens typically molt during the late summer to fall months, specifically August through November, according to Backyard Boost, Kalmbach Feeds, and My Pet Chicken. This seasonal molt is a natural process where chickens shed old feathers to make way for new, healthy plumage.
What are the first signs of molting in chickens?
- Sudden and dramatic loss of feathers.
- Pale combe and wattles.
- Reduction or even complete stop in egg production.
- Increase in appetite especially for proteins.
- New feather growth.