give the coop to recover a carpet of feather that was n’t there the mean solar day before can be shocking , whether you ’re a beginning or experient chicken keeper . If your chicken are different breeds , you ’ll match the fallen plumage to the corresponding biddy before you even see her . ( She ’s the one that looks like she ’s been cage in with a racoon . ) My Partridge Plymouth Rock is regain from her September molt . This year , her extension feathers fell out first , littering the entire coop suddenly overnight . I admit , I panic and checked her over immediately for signs of doom .
My quite a little set out molting mid - summer and finishes in November . It ’s not that they molt for months on close , but that each hen is on her own agenda . Because they ’re the same age , I attribute the difference to their single breeds . My Polish hen is the first to molt in the summer — early on enough that wild hoot swoop in to gather the feathers she ’s lost to make their nest . Sometimes the plumage are too big for the sparrows , which can be seen dragging and dropping feathers until they eventually give up . My Silver - Laced Wyandotte , the flock ’s largest hen , is the last to exuviate in November . Every yr , I care about keeping her warm as overnight temperatures dip near freezing .
If nothing else , exuviate chickens bet misfortunate . As their keepers , we offer empathy in human speech ( “ You poor affair ! ” ) and through the understanding that our nest boxes will boast fewer offerings .
Molting and Egg Laying
As your chickens go into ecdysis , you ’ll note their egg laying slows down or stops altogether . This is because instead of converting protein into the egg whites you cook into delightful , nutritious breakfasts , your hens use dietary protein to make raw feathers instead . It ’s these refreshing feathers that will keep them warm through wintertime .
Feathers are made of ceratin , as are snout , talon , and even human hair and fingernails . Keratin is a very strong , lightweight and hempen protein .
In human being , protein want have hair red ink and easygoing , brittle nail , so it ’s easy to understand why dietetic protein is so important for a poulet during a molt . The wellness of new feather calculate on today ’s diet , and those feathers have to last until next year ’s molt .
There are many ways that you may aid supplement a hen ’s dieting and increase their protein intake to ensure good for you feathering re - growth .
1. Free-Range the Yard
While commercial chicken feed is forge for optimal nourishment , loose - ranging can help poulet get the extra protein require during molts . The creepy-crawly crawlies and fly thing live in your lawn are all animal protein . There is no such thing as a vegetarian dieting for a free - range chicken !
2. Enlist Garden Clean-Up Help
As you clean out the garden and turn the soil , employ your less - fledge friends for help . They ’ll bolt up all the bugs and plants you unearth .
3. Offer Chick Feed
If you ’re feeding untested pullets chick provender , like I am , give some to your molt hens . Chick feed has higher protein content than layer feed . While it should n’t completely substitute layer provender , it ’s OK for your hens to eat it for the comparatively short amount of clip you ’re expect for your pullets to begin laying . Offer the flock its regular provender , using chick provender for a peculiar meal or goody .
4. Feed Cooked Eggs
Your flock supplies you and your family with food , so consider sharing the wealth . Whip up some warm scrambled eggs and feed them back to the hens on parky fall mornings . They love ball !
5. Bulk-Order Mealworms
Freeze - dry out mealworm are packed with protein , they last longer than living mealworm , and the best part is , they do n’t writhe . If you put them in bulk , you’re able to save some hard cash . tip them to your chickens as treat , sparge on a scrambled ball ration , or spread them for free - ranging fun .
6. Cut Carbs and Scratch
If you are n’t able-bodied to supplement your deal ’s diet with extra protein , at least temporarily , stop supplementing with high - carb kitchen scraps , like breads and cereal , and obviate the use of goods and services of chicken simoleons . Chickens are book eater ; if they are occupy with scratch and other empty carbs , they wo n’t eat enough protein from feed rations or other sources .
