Chickens discard their old, scruffy feathers and grow in healthy new plumage in the fall. Called molting, chickens’ physiology shifts nutrient use to feather growth which causes egg production to decrease.
A molting chicken is also at risk of both physical and weather-related injury, since feathers both help protect its skin and regulate its body temperature.”
Source: Chickens, September 29, 2022. Link. A chicken’s feathers account for approximately 25 percent of its body’s total protein. If not fed a protein-rich diet during molting season, a bird’s body will naturally tap into other sources—specifically, its own body—to obtain the protein it needs to replenish its plumage.
INSIGHTS: An untold number of owners have started raising backyard chickens in the last 24 to 36 months. Consider sharing this article on social media or in newsletters. This action may save some flocks from suffering and avoid some owner anxiety, too.