For me, fall officially starts when I go into the chicken coop, and it looks like a bird got eaten there - mountains of feathers everywhere. Then I count heads and feel reassured when I realize my hens are only going into molt.
Molt, which usually happens as chickens regrow new high-quality feathers before the cold weather hits, is hard on chickens. They use lots of extra protein for those new feathers, so they'll typically stop laying eggs. Laying might resume once they're done molting, or stop altogether until the days start growing longer again, unless you use artificial lighting in your coop. I don't do that; I believe my hardworking hens deserve to take some time off egg laying.
Watching a chicken lost a large part of its feathers can be alarming. From a sleek-looking creature with beautiful plumage, it very quickly turns into a half-plucked bird that then begins to look like a hedgehog as the feather shafts start growing out.
The Chicken Chick has a comprehensive article on molting and how to help your beloved birds through it. Your chickens will benefit from a protein boost during this time, which will help them regrow feathers more efficiently. Switching to higher-protein feed is common advice, but I usually supplement their normal diet with protein-rich snacks like cooked eggs, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, fish scraps, and occasionally even some cat food. Chickens are omnivores, so as long as you vary their diet, they should be fine.
You should also do your best to reduce stress for your birds when they're molting. This isn't a good time for a lot of handling, moving your flock to a new coop, or introducing new birds.
Don't let molt bother you - within a few weeks, your birds should regrow their feathers and become their pretty selves again. Please feel free to share any tips for sailing through the molt season!
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