Fall Preparations for Happy and Healthy Chickens

Autumn brings changes to our backyards. Cooler temperatures, shorter days, and an abundance of falling leaves transform the outdoors. Our chickens are noticing seasonal changes too. Help your chickens prepare to enjoy the fall season with these simple maintenance tips.

Pamper Molting Chickens

Strewn feathers in your chicken coop and run are a sign of molting. Loss and regrowth of feathers is a natural phenomenon that occurs annually, typically during fall. Seasonal molting begins when chickens are at least 18-months old. The process can last for eight to twelve weeks. You might notice a slight drop in egg production during molting. Chickens give themselves a well deserved break from laying and prepare their bodies for winter. You can help your chickens to remain healthy and comfortable by:

• Avoiding unnecessary handling; chickens' skin is sensitive during molting.
• Keeping a low-stress environment; do not introduce new hens into the flock to minimize the stress of maintaining a pecking order during molting.
• Feeding a protein rich diet; food rich in protein encourages healthy feather regrowth.

Tidy Coops & Runs

Fall is a great time for a thorough clean of your chicken coop and run. Chickens will enjoy the comforts of a clean, dry, well ventilated coop during their fall hiatus. Keep an eye for any mites, lice, or parasites as you clean and treat the coop with pest repellent if necessary. Molting chickens are particularly susceptible to infestation. Scrub feeders and water fountains with an environmentally friendly cleanser.

Secure the Perimeter

Protect your chickens from lurking predators. Food becomes scant during fall so, predators are on the hunt for an easy meal. Inspect your coop and run and make any necessary repairs to overhead netting, chicken wire, fencing, or other perimeter boundaries.

Light Up the Coop

Chickens are photoperiod sensitive. Dwindling hours of daylight as fall progresses can decrease your chickens egg laying. Help your chickens to continue to lay by providing 14 to 16 hours of light per day. You can achieve sufficient lighting by equipping your coop with one 24W bulb for every 40-square-feet of coop.

Embrace the autumn changes in your backyard and enjoy the scene while listening to the happy, "Cluck, cluck!" of your well prepared chickens! Don’t forget to treat your chickens with Popworms! during the autumn season! Use the Promo Code “FALL” to receive 20% off PopWorms! ECO and PopWorms! PRO.  Valid through October 5, 2019.