Molting is a normal process that all birds go through in which they lose their old feathers and regrow new ones. For chickens, this process generally takes place in the fall or winter. Molting can be rough on their bodies, as it takes a lot of energy to regrow their feathers. As a result, most hens will stop laying eggs during this time as their bodies instead shift their energy to growing feathers instead of producing eggs. Many owners will want to find ways to help speed up the process and help their hens return to normal so that they can not only look beautiful again, but so they start producing eggs again. Fortunately, there are some things that owners can do to help their birds get through molting.
Believe it or not, feathers are made up of around 80% protein, so it's no surprise that it takes a lot of energy for the bird to grow them back. As a result, it is wise to increase the level of protein that your hens are consuming during molt. This can be achieved by switching their feed. Nutrena makes a type of feed specifically for molt called, Feather Fixer. This feed contains 18% protein, whereas most traditional layer feeds contain about 16% protein. Feather Fixer was specifically designed for molting birds and comes in the form of a small pellet which is dust-free and easy for the chickens to eat. I offered a feeder filled with regular layer feed and a feeder filled with Feather Fixer to my hens during molt, and they all went right for the Feather Fixer, making it obvious that their bodies knew what they needed.
If your birds are particularly struggling during molt, you can even switch to a meat bird formula. Many meat bird feeds have around 20-22% protein, and many people have fed them to their molting hens with success. However, make sure they aren't on this feed for a prolonged period of time because once they start producing eggs again they are going to need to be back on their layer formula so that they are receiving the correct levels of calcium.
There are multiple treats that you can offer your molting hens that can be beneficial to them as they work on growing their feathers back. Mealworms are a great choice as they are a high protein snack. However, there is a similar item on the market that contains greater health benefits than mealworms, and that is black solider fly larvae. While they contain slightly less protein than mealworms, they are higher in calcium, fiber, and fat, which also makes it an ideal snack for when the hens are producing eggs. Black solider fly larvae can be purchased at many feed stores, and come freeze dried and bagged just like mealworms.
Other treats you can offer your molting hens are small amounts of safflower seeds and black oil sunflower seeds. Safflower seeds contain Omega 6 fatty acids, and are rich in vitamins E and K, which make them a great snack to offer anytime of the year. Black oil sunflower seeds are a rich source of both fat and protein, and will add a beautiful shine to your bird's feathers as they grow back. Just make sure you offer this treat in moderation, as too many black oil sunflower seeds can make your hens pack on the pounds!
During molt you can also offer fish, dried cat food, and even scrambled eggs to your hens. Showering your flock with these high-protein treats will be a nice hands-off way to care for your birds, because molting is an uncomfortable process, and as a result you may not want to handle your birds as much as you normally do.
Feathers grow back slowly, and it can sometimes take around 8 weeks or longer for the process to be complete. However, if you provide your flock with the right amount of protein, and provide a clean and warm living space, and plenty of fresh water, they should be back to normal and laying eggs again before you know it.
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