How to Care for Molting Chickens this Fall

Fall brings many exciting seasonal changes, but if you are a backyard chicken keeper, you might be noticing some big changes in your flock as well. Common questions we get from new growers this time of year are, "Why are my chickens losing feathers?" and "Why are my chickens not laying eggs?"

In late summer and fall, your chickens not laying eggs or losing a lot of feathers is usually not a cause for concern. They are most likely going through a molting phase.

If you're new to poultry keeping, this natural process can seem alarming at first. However, it's actually a healthy part of your flock’s life cycle. Every year, adult chickens (approximately 18 months and older) will start to lose their feathers in the fall to prepare for the winter ahead.

While molting is natural, it’s a good idea to provide your chickens with extra care during this period.


Ensuring your chickens are comfortable, stress-free, and have plenty of protein in their diet will help them resume laying once their new feathers have grown in. Want to help your poultry through this process? Here are some of our favorite staff tips to support molting chickens.

Why Do Chickens Molt?

Like human hair or fingernails, feathers are made out of keratin, a protein that degrades and breaks down over time. To keep their feathers healthy and strong, chickens drop all of their old feathers and replace them with new ones every year. This typically happens in the fall, so they can have a brand new set of feathers to carry them through the winter.

When Do Chickens Molt?

Your chickens will start to lose their adult feathers for the first time around 18 months of age. After that, they’ll shed their feathers annually. Younger birds also go through a series of juvenile molts, which help them transition from fluffy chicks to fully feathered adults.


1 week of age: Chicks will start losing their soft down and grow in their first set of "baby" feathers.

8–12 weeks of age: Pullets shed their early feathers and start growing in their adult plumage.

Once mature, most hens will experience feather loss in late summer through fall, triggered by shorter daylight hours. However, chickens losing feathers in spring, summer, or even winter isn’t unheard of, especially if your chickens are more stressed than usual or have some kind of hormonal imbalance.

Signs that Your Chickens are Molting

Your first signs will be feathers becoming more dull or frayed, as well as a loss of feathers around the head and eyes. Feather shedding typically happens in a regular pattern, with feather loss starting atop the head, working its way naturally down the neck, to the torso, wings, and then the tail.

Feather shedding typically doesn’t happen all at once, but rather, it’s a gradual process that can take several months to fully complete.

There may be some subtle behavioral changes that indicate your flock is about to start shedding old feathers. Before feather loss, your chickens may be a little less active, or spending more time preening their plumage.

Why Have My Chickens Stopped Laying Eggs?

Egg production may take a significant drop or even stop altogether during this period. This is because your hens are diverting energy from laying eggs to regrowing new feathers. Eggs are comprised of a lot of protein and nutrients, which the hen will be conserving for their new plumage.

Additionally, less daylight is a big contributing factor in egg production, so you’ll also be working against a lack of sunlight.


Don’t be alarmed if your nesting boxes remain empty or sparse for much of the fall season. A decrease in egg production is actually a good sign that your chickens are effectively conserving their energy for new feathers.

Molting vs Other Causes of Feather Loss

Molting is not the only time a chicken might lose their feathers. If you suspect your chickens are going through a molt, it’s not a bad idea to rule out other potential causes just to be sure. Chickens may also start losing feathers due to mites, illness, or stress.

To rule out other issues, do a thorough health check on your chickens and ask yourself the following:

Is my coop big enough? A lack of space or excessive crowding can cause chickens to become stressed, which can be a contributing factor to losing feathers.
Is there any excessive bullying among the flock? Chickens may lose feathers if there is bullying, pecking, or overzealous roosters. Ensure your chickens have ample space and that there are boredom busters in the coop.
Are my chickens free of any visible mites or lice? Pests tend to crowd around the wings and vent area of chickens. Check those places first to make sure you're not dealing with a pest issue.
Do my chickens have a complete diet? Your chickens should be fed a complete layer feed, with at least 16% protein. A lack of appropriate nutrition could be a contributing factor to feather loss.


If you can confidently rule out the above, then it's pretty likely that you have a molt on your hands.

How to Help Molting Chickens

To give your flock a boost, you can provide them with extra protein during this period. Treats like soldier fly larvae, sunflower seeds, and mealworms are a favorite here at Myers Poultry.

However, we always recommend exercising caution with diet changes, especially when it comes to protein. Some growers suggest switching from 16 to 20 percent protein during this period, but you should do so gradually by mixing in with their regular food for a few weeks.

Treats should only make up about 10% of your hens diet, so we recommend staying within that range for high-protein treats.

You can also offer poultry supplements to your flock during this period. StesEEZ is a supplement that works well for day-old chicks, but it can also be used for adult flocks that are going through a stressful period. It provides them with a boost of much-needed vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes, which is exactly what your chickens need during this period.

FAQs About Molting Chickens

Should I be worried about my chickens molting? In most cases, there is no cause for concern, as this is a natural and cyclical part of a chicken’s life. However, you should monitor your chickens closely during this period to make sure they are healthy and comfortable.

How long does chicken molting last? Most birds lose their feathers gradually over 8–16 weeks, but some finish faster or slower depending on their breed, age, and health.

Is there any way to speed up the process or make it go faster? No, there’s not a way to speed up the process, but you can make your chickens more comfortable and provide them with a healthy, balanced diet so egg production can resume sooner.

Is feather loss uncomfortable for my chickens? In some cases, yes, it is uncomfortable. Having bare patches of skin or exposed pin feathers can be painful. Feathers provide chickens with insulation and protection from the elements, and without it, they are much more sensitive to touch or sunlight. Try not to handle your chickens during this period, especially if pin feathers are visible. 

My chicken is molting in summer. Is that normal? Yes, it can actually happen at any point during the year, but the most commonly observed time is late summer and fall. This coincides with shorter daylight hours, which is a signal to your chickens that it's time to shed their feathers and grow new ones.

When do chickens molt for the first time? Young chickens go through several small-scale or partial molts as they grow. Every chick loses their downy feathers around one week of age, which start to be replaced by actual feathers.

Just like kids lose baby teeth, juvenile chickens or pullets will lose their “baby” set of feathers, and start growing in their adult feathers around 8-12 weeks. By 18 months of age, your chicken should go through its first full adult molt. After that, your chickens will shed their feathers annually.

Do roosters lose their feathers too? Yes, regardless of gender or poultry species, all birds will lose their feathers and grow new ones annually. If you have other poultry at home (like ducks, geese, or turkeys) they will also lose their feathers and grow new ones the same way chickens do.

Is there anything else to keep in mind during this period? The 3 main things you can do to help are keep stress low, give them a balanced diet, and handle them carefully when they are actively losing their feathers, especially if pin feathers are visible.

Care for your Flock this Fall with Myers Poultry

Molting chickens may be a little messy, but it’s a completely natural process that every flock will go through each year. With a balanced diet, stress management, and a little extra care, you can help your flock get back on track.

Have more questions about caring for your flock or poultry nutrition? Don't hesitate to reach out to our customer care team for expert tips and tricks. We are always here to help.