Annual Moult

Feathers get changed once a year towards the ed of summer over about 6 weeks. During this time the chicken may look pale and unhappy. Some chickens will have a more severe moult than others and look a bit like a pine cone! This can be particularly worrying for new keepers, but it is entirely normal. She may stop laying and won't like being touched. Feathers are 80% protein so make sure they have some ACV and are well fed. They should have a new set of feathers by the end of autumn, chickens won't moult on their first year of life but it will start on their second. Don't be alarmed she may look like a battery hen for a while. In fact battery hens used to be forced into moulting to replenish the condition of egg shells, this was often fatal and has now been banned in Europe.