Hens looking a little tatty? It’s moulting season

It’s getting to that time of year again where our birds start looking a little tatty – but what exactly happens to chickens in moult?

Each year, after the Great British summer has ended and the nights begin drawing in, this can act as a trigger for our hens to go into moult.

Why do chickens moult?

There are several reasons why hens begin to moult: some moult at the end of an egg laying cycle, others due to stress, hatching eggs, lack of water or even changes in the coop.

Chickens in moult will be looking their best one minute, preening those glossy feathers and strutting about the place looking fabulous. The next thing you know, their feathers are starting to drop! But be assured, this is completely normal and all part of the natural cycle that your hens go through every year so whilst your girls may look in a bit of a sorry state, you shouldn’t worry too much.

In fact moulting allows your hens to shed any damaged or loose feathers and replace them with a fresh set. The whole process is usually gradual, to ensure the hen has enough feathering to protect her from the elements, but in extreme cases, a hen may drop most of her feathers in one go.

Most hens will have their first moult around the age of 18 months and, whilst it is usually in the autumn, some hens will buck the trend and moult in the summer. On average, a moult can normally take from 8 to 12 weeks but can last longer.

Top tips for chickens in moult:

• Where feathers have been lost, new pin feathers will emerge giving the appearance of a hedgehog to your already tatty hen! These pin feathers taste nice to other hens and may be plucked so take care to protect a moulting hen.

• Did you know feathers are 80% protein? By switching to a higher protein feed, we can help our hens through the process by adding extra protein and calcium to their diets.

• Don’t be surprised if your moulting hen goes off lay or her egg production drops. She simply can’t produce enough protein for both processes, especially when a full moult takes place.

• Colder weather will also speed up the process of new feathers growing back, so please don’t be tempted to knit a jumper for your hen; she is quite capable of producing her own new outfit.

Need something to help your chickens in moult?

On our BHWT shop we have many products which can give your hens a boost when they are going through a moult. Check them out at shop.bhwt.org.uk