moulting

Moulting usually occurs between late summer and spring, and can range from dropping a few feathers to chickens appearing almost oven ready.

During this time you can expect the hens to look a little depressed, and for egg production to slow down as all of the effort (and protein consumed) goes into producing new feathers, and not eggs.

No extra treatment is necessary, but a slightly higher protein level than normal may be appreciated (mealworms are an easy source of protein )