Shedding in laying hens: why does it happen in winter, what and when to give, how long does it last

Many poultry farmers breed chickens so that they can enjoy homemade eggs all year round. Some people experience shedding in laying hens. This can happen due to natural processes in the body or due to diseases.

Types and periods of molting

There are three periods of molting, the features of which must be familiarized in advance.

Juvenile (primary)

Juvenile molt is called, in which the plumage begins to gradually be replaced. During the primary molting, completely bare areas should not appear on the body of the laying hen.New feathers should be covered with old ones, which will fall off over time. The beginning of juvenile molting is indicated by a reddish tint at the base of the feathers.

The most noticeable red spotting is on the feathers that are on the head. On the back and other parts of the body, color changes are almost imperceptible.

Periodic (seasonal)

It's no secret that adult chickens molt periodically. This process takes place every year. The change of plumage begins in the fall, in mid-October and continues until December. However, in some hens, the molt lasts longer by 1-2 months.

If the bird has a weakened body and has a serious lack of weight, the replacement of feathers begins earlier - in early July. All this continues for four and a half months. In this case, the plumage of the neck is first replaced, and only after that all other parts of the body begin to shed.

Due to illness

If the hens do not rush and their feathers begin to disappear, it means that molting has begun due to the development of diseases in the body. Feather coating starts to fade due to the following reasons:

• tick attack;
• appearance of fleas.

If nothing is done, diseases will begin to develop, and the hens will eventually stop laying completely and may even die. Therefore, it is recommended that you seek the help of a veterinarian to examine the birds and determine the exact cause of shedding.

When laying hens begin to shed

Before you start breeding chickens, you need to figure out when they start molting. For the first time, young hens begin to shed their plumage in the second year of life. Most often this occurs in the autumn, but sometimes plumage occurs in winter. Re-shedding of feathers begins 60-70 weeks after the initial molt.

If the feathers fall too often, more than 2-3 times per season, then the bird has he alth problems. They can appear due to malnutrition, vitamin deficiencies, or the development of skin ailments, due to which the plumage weakens.

Food for Moulting Birds

The body of birds during molting is greatly weakened and consumes a lot of energy. Therefore, it is recommended to make the right diet to ensure the continuous supply of vitamins and other beneficial components.

Experts recommend saturating the body of chickens with manganese and iodine. These trace elements are found in beets, berries and grass. Chickens also need to be fed daily with insects and earthworms. It is contraindicated to give raw potatoes, as it impairs digestion. Instead, it is better to use boiled vegetables.

Bird care

A molting bird must be properly looked after. Poultry farmers who have been raising chickens for many years recommend keeping chickens in the coop longer during the molting process. If you let them out on the street, you need to arrange additional protection from the rain in the paddock.

When chickens begin to shed their plumage, you need to clean the coop more often. If this is not done, parasites and bacteria will begin to develop in the feathers, which can infect chickens in the future. Also, during molting, you can not physically contact the hens and change the composition of the herd.

Methods to speed up the process

There are several methods to speed up the molting of a bird.

Forage after molting

After molting, experts advise giving chickens special food, which contains a lot of vitamins D, A and B. This food is made from fodder beets, fresh grass and boiled vegetable fruits.After molting is completed, wood ash, shells, cottage cheese and chalk are added to the diet.

Protein supplements

To speed up the fall of the old plumage and the growth of new feathers, you need to feed the chickens with protein supplements. However, you should not use too much protein, as this negatively affects the egg production of chickens. Soy, alfalfa and fish leftovers are added to the diet to give the birds more protein.

Artificial molting: why and how it is called

Sometimes poultry farmers have to induce molting themselves at home.

Chemical method

When using the chemical method, chickens are given special preparations that stop egg laying. They also stop ovulation and slow down the formation of hormones. All this leads to a change in plumage.

Hormonal way

In this case, the birds are given special hormonal preparations, which include "Thyroxin" and "Progesterone".If you regularly give such funds, hormones will slow down the secretion, and the hens will stop laying eggs. Shedding caused by hormones is gentle and without any problems.

Zootechnical (classic) way

The classic method excludes the use of medications. Shedding is caused by artificial stress, which is provoked by stimuli such as bright lights or a sharp loud sound.

Conclusion

People who want to raise chickens in the future should learn more about shedding. To do this, you need to understand the main periods of feather fall and the peculiarities of bird care during the change of plumage.

Recommended