Molting Done Right: A Gentle Non-Fasting Approach for Backyard Chickens

In this Coop Wisdom bonus episode of The Poultry Keepers Podcast, host Rip Stalvey walks you through a step-by-step, non-fasting molting method that supports your flock’s health, comfort, and future egg production.

Learn what molting is, when it occurs, why it matters, and how you can manage it humanely without depriving your hens. You’ll discover how to adjust your flock’s diet, lighting, and care to guide them through this critical rest-and-renewal phase with confidence.

Whether you're new to backyard chickens or a seasoned small-flock keeper, this episode is packed with practical wisdom, expert tips, and encouragement to help your birds molt right and come back better than ever.

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Transcript

Rip Stalvey: 0:13

Hi, I'm Rip Stalvey and it is time for more Coop Wisdom Bonus content. It won't be long before our birds are molting. And today's bonus episode is all about molting, done right; a gentle non-fasting approach for small flocks. It's how to support your laying hands during the critical transition of molting. We're going to explore what molting is. Why it matters and how you can guide your flock through a non-fasting molt method that supports recovery without depriving your birds of food or comfort. So let's start with the basics. Molting is a natural process in chickens where they shed old feathers and grow new ones. It's their version of a seasonal rest during this time. Hens, also take a break from laying eggs. Why? Feather growth and egg production both demand a lot of nutrients and their bodies can only do one or the other efficiently. Now, molting doesn't just improve feather condition. It gives the birds reproductive tract a much needed rest after successful molt hens often returned to laying with stronger shells, better egg whites, and improved overall production. Now in commercial setting, molting is often managed in a very controlled way, but for small flock keepers, it's about balanced gentle nutrition and smart observation. That's where the non-fasting molt comes in. You may have heard of older methods that involve fasting hens to stop egg production abruptly. Thankfully, we know now that's not necessary and it's certainly not humane. With a non-fasting Molt, your birds will keep access to food and water, lose some weight, gradually, still get a rest from egg laying and come back into production healthier and stronger. This method is much more in line with the values of backyard and small scale poultry keepers who care deeply about their bird's welfare. So when should you consider a molt? Well, most flocks benefit from a molt around 65 to 75 weeks of age. Now that's roughly 16 to 18 months old. Now it can depend on your bird's current condition and their egg production rate. If your hens are laying poorly or the eggshells are thin, might be time to give them a rest. Signs that a molt is coming or already underway. Include feathers dropping, bald patches appearing on the birds, reduced or stopped egg production, or just a general slowdown in behavior. These signs. Are your cue to support them through the Now let's walk through a non-fasting process broken down into easy steps. The first step is you're gonna need to adjust their feed. Start feeding your hens a low energy, high fiber diet, often called a molt diet. Carrie Blackman will be posting about the nutritional needs for a good, healthy molt in the next few days, so be sure to watch for his post to get that part of it. Reduce the amount of large calcium particles. Use fine particle calcium, but don't lower the total calcium content. If you're mixing your own feed, stop adding salt to the feed during this period. Keep water available at all times with no exceptions. Now, on days one through seven, gradually reduce the lighting in your coop to around six to eight hours per day. This will signal the birds to stop laying eggs and start conserving energy for feather regrowth. Step three. Support healthy weight loss during weeks one through three. Your goal is to let the birds lose about 20 to 23% of their body weight. You want the birds to return to the standard weight for pullets of their breed. It sounds like a lot, but it mimics a natural slowdown in appetite during the molt. Now during summer's warmer temperatures, our birds tend to eat less, which further helps to gently reduce body weight. Step four, hold their body weight steady in weeks three to five. maintain their weight for a few weeks while their reproductive track rests. Continue offering the molt diet and observe each hen's individual condition. Step five. Return to production in week six through eight. When you're ready to bring your birds back into lay, increase the daylight back to 16 hours per day over a one to two week period of time. Remember, go slow with that. Switch back to a layer. Diet with balanced protein and larger calcium particles, and be sure to monitor their appetite. After a successful molt, here's what you'll likely notice. Better quality and stronger eggshells, more consistent production, healthier looking hens. A smaller drop in egg production compared to younger layers, but often better quality eggs. Don't be surprised if your hens take two to four weeks after the molt to start laying again. That's completely normal. While they may never reach their first year's peak production again, they'll also continue laying well into their second or even third season with care. So let me give you some tips to keep in mind. Always monitor bird's weight if possible, once or twice a week is ideal. Keep the environment and clean stress. Birds don't molt or recover well. Never restrict water. Hydration supports feathers and egg production alike. Supplement with vitamins if your birds seem slow to rebound. Watch for signs of illness. Molting makes birds more vulnerable. Molting is a natural part of a hen's life, and with a gentle non-fasting approach, you can help your birds rest, recover, and return to laying with renewed energy and better health. If you found this episode helpful, share it with a fellow poultry keeper, you know, or someone thinking about extending their flocks productive life. And be sure to subscribe to the Poultry Keepers Podcast for more bonus content like this every Thursday and Saturday. To listen to more bonus content, get free resources, past episodes and articles, visit us online at the poultry keepers podcast.com. Until next time, keep learning, keep improving, and by all means, keep enjoying the birds you love.