Most chickens molt once a year.
If you have ever raised chickens, you probably have noticed that they occasionally lose their feathers. This is actually very common. When chickens shed their feathers, this is usually a sign of molting. Molting happens when chicken lose feathers so they can grow new ones. Molting typically occurs once a year during the fall and generally takes about nine weeks. Sometimes though, there are other things that can cause a chicken to lose their feathers such as a parasite, mites or lice.
Instructions
Keeping Chickens Healthy and Comfortable
1. Offer your chickens shaded areas. The birds are the most comfortable when provided shade during the heat of the county fair season or during the molting process.
2. Provide your chickens plenty of water. Chickens need water to keep hydrated and a hydrated chicken is less likely to lose its feathers if it is not in a molt.
3. Increase the amount of protein and calcium that your chicken gets while it is going through the molting process. Give your chickens starter chicken feed, oyster shells and cat food.
4. Keep the chicken coop clean to prevent lice and mites. Parasites will cause the chicken to loose its features, particularly on the rear "fluff" region. Provide the birds with plenty of dirt so they can take a "dirt bath" --- a natural way chickens rid themselves of parasites.
5. Keep older hens and younger hens (pullets) separated if you notice the younger hens getting pecked by the older hens.
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