Over the last week or so a few of my hens have gotten pretty ragged looking — feathers everywhere in the run — and egg production has dropped off almost completely. Is this just a normal molt for this time of year, or should I be looking for something else going on? Anything I should be doing differently while they’re going through it, feed-wise or otherwise?
Well, feathers all over the run and a sudden egg drop — that does sound like molt to me, and this time of year it’s about as common as mud on boots. Hens typically molt in the fall as the days shorten, and the body basically hits a reset button: it drops feathers and redirects all that protein away from egg production and into growing new ones. It’s hard on them and they look rough for a spell, but it’s perfectly natural.
That said, a few other things can cause feather loss, so it’s worth a quick look before you settle on “yep, that’s molt”:
- Feather pecking / bullying — if certain spots (back of the neck, base of the tail) are bare on multiple birds, and you’ve got a culprit doing the picking, that’s a different problem.
- Mites or lice — part the feathers near the vent and look for tiny moving specks or eggs clustered at the base of the shafts. If you see any, that’s worth addressing promptly.
- Rooster over-mating — saddle and back feathers worn thin on the hens he favors.
If it’s just a clean molt — feathers spread around evenly, no skin damage, birds are alert and eating well — then you’re most likely in good shape.
What you can do right now:
The biggest thing is bumping their protein. Feathers are mostly protein (keratin), and a hen growing a whole new coat needs more than your standard layer feed can supply on its own. A lot of folks switch to a higher-protein feed (around 18–20%) during molt, or add a supplement like black soldier fly larvae, mealworms, or a good quality game bird feed mixed in. Back off the scratch and treats for now — those dilute protein content.
Also go easy on handling them. Pin feathers (the new ones coming in) have a blood supply and are genuinely sore to the touch. The birds will thank you for a little peace and quiet.
Egg production will come back on its own once the molt is done and daylight hours stabilize — usually a few weeks to a couple of months depending on the hen and how hard she’s molting.
If any bird looks sick, lethargic, has discharge, or you’re seeing skin wounds, that’s worth a call to your vet just to be sure.
Hang in there — this is one of those parts of keeping chickens where the best thing you can do is mostly stay patient and feed them well. 