Help Your Birds Through Molt Season

Helping Your Chickens Through Molt — Naturally

Molt is one of the most important — and misunderstood — times in your flock’s year. Every fall, your hens shed old feathers, lose some weight, and reset their systems for another productive laying cycle. With the right nutrition and environment, you can help them move through molt smoothly and come out stronger than before.

What Really Happens During Molt

According to Jeff Mattocks of Fertrell, during molt your birds actually run a mild fever as their bodies work to drop and regrow feathers. They’ll lose about 15–25% of their body weight, which helps remove internal fat, shrink the ovaries, and reset their reproductive system for the next laying season.

This process takes a lot of energy — but not in the way you might think!

Early Molt = A Different Diet

When the molt begins, birds are already running warm and under stress. That means they actually need a lighter, high-fiber, lower-protein diet at first — not a protein boost right away.

A proper molt starter feed should look something like this:

Protein: 10–11%

Fat: 2–3%

Fiber: 10% or more

Lysine: under 0.7%

Methionine: under 0.3%

Calcium: around 1.5%

Phosphorus: about 0.6%

If you can’t find a dedicated molt feed, you can easily make your own:

Mix 1 part of your regular feed with 3 parts whole oats.

This will safely dilute the protein and boost fiber to help your flock feel more comfortable during this warm, stressful phase. You may need to add back minerals when diluting feed.

Feed this blend for about 14-21 days, at a rate of 2 ounces per standard bird.

Then, Shift Gears

After that two or three-week period, switch your birds to a high-quality, amino-acid-enriched diet — ideally 18% protein or higher — to support new feather growth and rebuild body condition.

This second phase helps produce strong, shiny plumage and sets your hens up for healthy egg production when they start laying again. Kraut Creek’s Hi-Temp Layer or Dual Purpose feeds are both great options for this recovery period.

Keep Them Cool and Comfortable

Because molting birds run a natural fever, heat stress can become a problem. Help them stay cool by:

Offering extra drinkers and cool, clean water

Providing shade and good air circulation

Using fans or misters in hot climates

Ensuring plenty of space so they can spread out and avoid crowding

Avoid feeding molt diets to juvenile birds that aren’t ready to molt — separate them if you can.

The Regenerative View

Molt isn’t a setback — it’s a biological reset. By letting your birds shed fat, rebuild feathers, and rebalance internally, you’re supporting their long-term health and the productivity of your flock naturally. A healthy molt means fewer health problems later and better overall performance when laying resumes.

In short:

Start with a low-protein, high-fiber “cool down” phase

Transition to a high-protein, amino acid-rich recovery phase

Support hydration, comfort, and calm

Avoid overfeeding or excess heat

Be patient with your birds as they regrow and move back into production

Give your flock the grace to rest and rebuild — and they’ll reward you with renewed vigor, glossy feathers, and strong eggs in the months ahead.