The Molt is Upon Us!! Are you Ready?

As Autumn rolls in and the days start to shorten, so too will the number of eggs your layers produce.  The signal to molt will trigger and feathers will start to fall.  This typically occurs on an annual basis and can take as long as 16 weeks to complete.   Really good productive layers will molt hard and fast and will look pretty sad quickly.  Talk about a bad hair day! 

Although there has been no definitive study to connect the dots between lessened egg production and molting - basic observation and common sense (and of course our Grandparents say so) tell us that it happens that way.  Protein is a main ingredient in egg production as well as in plumage growth (feathers are 85% protein).   So, if protein is being siphoned for feather regrowth, then it stands to reason that a poor hen cannot do both. 

So how can we help our feathered friends and get those eggs back as soon as possible?

Right before molting, feathers will start to dull – that beautiful shine will start to dissipate.  Feathers on the head and neck will fall out first, followed by the back and tail and so forth. 

At this point, adding some high level protein to their diet is key.  One thing I learned from some, older and wiser, is to go get a big bag of cat food (smaller pieces) and mix it into the feed.  Adding fish, mealworms and earthworms are other options.  Alfalfa pellets are another good source of protein or sprouting sesame and/or alfalfa seeds are also a great additive to the molting diet. Sprouting the seeds provides a larger quantity and improves the protein quality.  If you have them to spare, scramble up some eggs and crushed shells and feed them back to the flock.

An issue that can arise during molting season is pecking and picking.  As newly growing feathers emerge (called pinfeathers or blood feathers) they can be very attractive to the beak as they contain a visible supply of blood.  As most flock owners know – red can cause all kinds of crazy in a flock.

Having a can of Blu- Kote at the ready can help prevent attempts of cannibalism from occurring. (Blu- Kote is an essential part of a poultry first aid kit.)  As the feather matures the blood supply ceases.  That is why broken feathers do not grow back until the next molting season.

So, be sure to stock up on a few protein additives and be ready for the upcoming molting season.  This will help get egg production back in action and your flock “fully feathered” before temperatures drop.

This post was shared on the Homestead Hop!
http://www.modernhomesteaders.net/homesteaders-blog-hop-8/

 Legal mumbo jumbo:

We are not Veterinarians  - we are sharing information that we have learned from those we feel are qualified as experts and what works for us.  We strongly suggest that everyone do their own research and decide what will work best for them.