by Brenda Nelson

Created on: June 18, 2009   Last Updated: June 30, 2009

Although seeing a chicken going through a normal moult might make one think the bird is sick, it is a perfectly natural process for them, a way of shedding old feathers and growing new ones. In fact, all birds go through feather moulting in some way or another.

In chickens, moulting usually happens once a year, often in the fall. Occasionally a bird will moult twice in one year, or miss a years moult altogether. With chickens the first two years are generally lighter moults, with the third year being a hard moult where they even lose their tail feathers. Birds who are moulting stop laying eggs for that period of time, and usually egg production stops just before the moult,with only a few birds laying eggs after the process has begun.

-Why?

With winter coming the birds body is better protected with a new set of feathers. Egg laying stops to conserve nutrition and energy needed for the growth of new feathers. Feather production and egg production both require protein, thus a bird cannot do both. It is important to note, that even roosters moult. Each year their tail feathers grow in a bit longer than the year before. During their moult they will usually be sterile but will regain their reproductive abilities after the moult is complete.

Chicks also go through natural moults losing their fluffy feathers and replacing them with stiffer ones. Their moults are not as noticeable, with the first beginning at around one to two weeks of age, and the last ending shortly before egg production begins at around five months of age.

-How?

In most cases the feathers begin to fall out from the head and neck areas first. Then they drop from the saddle (back) breast and body. Finally the wing feathers are lost, and in hard moults the tail feathers also. As soon as a feather falls out a new one starts to grow, covering the whole bird in feathers in about six to eight weeks. The condition of the new feathers will be much better than the ones just lost.

-Abnormalities in moulting

Sometimes a bird will be in a continuous process of moulting, never loosing all her feathers, but will stand out because her feathers always look to be in top condition. Very likely this bird is also laying fewer eggs as a result.

Stress may also trigger an early moult.

Producers can encourage earlier moults by reducing the amount of light a bird receives, thereby tricking her into thinking it is fall.

Some birds will not moult fully, they will have only a partial moult and will continue laying.

-Other Feather Loss Reasons

Occasionally birds will lose feathers for other reasons, such as stress, being bullied, or disease. Always check for these causes if it is not a normal time for a moult.

-Summary

Remember moulting is perfectly normal. Make sure moulting birds are kept warm and are not being bullied by other birds. Be sure they are getting proper nutrition (protein) to grow healthy feathers.

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