Adult chickens will vary in terms of when they first moult.That's just a part of growing up, and it's not a moult in the strict sense of the word. Chicks will lose their downy covering as they gain their feathers.Feathers are pulled off by the male digging his claws and spurs into the hen, and hanging onto her back with his beak.Īt what age and how often do chickens moult? If you have a rooster, you may well also see hens lose plumage if they are "well used". The new coat will be glossy and perfectly formed, covering the skin and protecting from wind, rain and frost. You won't necessarily notice, but once a chicken has moulted and grown her new coat you'll see a big difference. It also allows time for their reproductive organs to rest. Moulting is a natural process that allows those old feathers to be shed and a new coat to be grown. Feathers break, and although this doesn't much matter in the summer months, by the time winter arrives the feathers aren't able to insulate the chicken properly from the cold weather. During the course of a year, the plumage becomes dull and shabby. You'll have heard of a dog moulting to grow its winter coat it's very much the same for chickens. Why does the moult happen? Renewing plumage. The bird may become a bit moody (wouldn't you?!).Fluffy down begins to appear as the main feathers fall out.Random bald spots may begin appearing on your chickens and the comb and wattles look dull.
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