Molting in laying hens and its types
Moulting in laying hens is a natural process that begins in late autumn. Birds change their plumage to a denser one, which will not allow them to freeze in winter. Chicks molt several times in the first year. During puberty, they are characterized by spring molt. In addition, there are situations when birds begin to lose feathers due to diseases, improper living conditions. In poultry farms, in order to maintain high productivity, the process is artificially triggered.
Laying hens
The main causes of shedding
Why does molt begin in domestic laying hens? The main and natural reason is the seasonal change of plumage. Also, the process is typical for chickens at different age periods. But besides this, there are other types of molt, which have their own reasons. The plumage suffers from diseases, improper feeding and maintenance, metabolic disorders. Sometimes molt is artificially induced. Pathological molting is observed in such situations:
- deficiency of vitamins and minerals;
- underfeeding, which leads to a lack of nutrients in the chicken's body;
- stressful situations;
- skin diseases, parasite infestation, helminths.
Pathological molting in chickens can begin at any time of the year, for example, in summer. The rate of feather loss varies. Sometimes the owner may not even notice the problem in the bird's appearance. Only the decrease in the number of eggs is alarming. But there are times when chickens lose almost all of their plumage, then they need immediate veterinary help.
Most often, pathological molt is caused by chewing lice or feather-eaters... What these parasites look like can be seen in the photo on the Internet. In addition to the loss of feathers, reddening of the skin is noticeable in layers, a white coating at the base of the rods, they constantly itch. The loss of plumage with vitamin deficiency and metabolic disorders is accompanied by a decrease in egg production, sexual activity in males. Birds become lethargic, eat poorly, and sometimes have intestinal problems.
How does natural molting go
Natural molting of chickens begins in the fall, in October or November. First, the feathers begin to fall out in the neck area, then the back sheds, after it - the tummy and wings. The tail feathers are renewed last. If you look at the photo, you can see how pathetic the faded birds look. Fortunately, the process does not last very long, after which the layers are even better than they were before the plumage change.
During the moulting period, the sensitivity of the skin increases in chickens, therefore they can react painfully to any touch. Even roosters show less activity after the start of feather change. Chickens try to hide away from people and other birds, lose their appetite, and rush badly. Any breed behaves in a similar way, even the most contact and affectionate ones.
Age or juvenile molt occurs at different periods of the chick's life.The cover is lost several times during the first months, until a real adult feather grows:
- the first begins 7-8 days after birth and lasts about 4 weeks;
- the second begins at the age of 7 weeks, lasts up to 14 weeks;
- the third begins in spring, when the chicks are 16 months old, after which the birds become full-fledged layers, capable of fertilization and incubation of eggs
Natural molting processes are associated with the activity of thyroid hormones. They largely depend on the length of daylight hours. When chickens molt in winter, the daylight hours are very short. If it is artificially lengthened, the plumage renewal period is significantly reduced.
It happens that in chickens at any age, natural molting begins in the summer, in July or August. The change of feathers continues for 2-2.5 months, there are almost no eggs at this time. If there are no signs of illness, these hens should be removed from the flock. Their productivity will plummet in the coming months. Neither females nor males, in which summer molt constantly occurs, are not allowed to breed.
Artificial shedding
Understanding the processes that lead to molting in chickens made it possible to artificially cause it in poultry farms. At the same time, molting time is significantly reduced. All birds lose feathers at the same time, and the productivity of the flock is not particularly affected. After the temporary cessation of clutching, the chickens lay even more intensively, the total egg production of the livestock increases significantly. It is impossible to carry out artificial molt at home: too fast and forced change of feathers can not only damage the health of the bird, but also destroy the entire livestock.
There are many ways to speed up the plumage change process. The most commonly used types of artificial molt are:
- chemical;
- hormone;
- zootechnical.
Chemical method
To cause accelerated molting by chemical means, concentrated feed with a certain ratio of microelements and biologically active substances are used. They affect the synthesis of hormones in the pituitary gland, hypothalamus, thyroid and gonads. As a result, the sexual function of chickens and roosters is inhibited, the hormonal background is as close as possible to that characteristic of natural conditions during molting. The process lasts 2-3 weeks, after which egg production quickly resumes.
Hormonal technique
The hormonal method is based on the use of thyroxine, progesterone and other similar drugs. Molting begins and ends very quickly. Within a week, laying hens can produce double the number of eggs. With the wrong use of hormones, changing dosages, you can cause a persistent decrease in productivity, since the birds' own endocrine system stops working.
Zootechnical technique
The zootechnical method is the least expensive, as it does not require the use of expensive drugs. Chickens are given a water diet for 4 days: they only give to drink, but do not feed. At the same time, the duration of daylight hours is sharply reduced, birds are kept in the dark for almost the whole day. Against the background of stress and starvation, birds begin to quickly lose feathers. This forced molt does not last long. Egg production resumes within 1.5-2 weeks after stopping the diet.
Bird care during molting
Many novice poultry farmers ask: "My chickens are molting, what should I do?" If feather loss is natural, no special care is required. It is advisable to keep the hens in the hen house most of the time at this time, especially when it is cold outside. If the chickens do walk, it is worth arranging a canopy in the pen to protect it from the rain. It is important to regularly clean the feathers in the house so that different types of bacteria do not multiply in them and parasites.
When moulting occurs, physical contact with the bird should be excluded. It is also impossible to change the composition of the herd, buy new chickens or send old ones for slaughter.During molting, the bird loses weight, so the meat yield will be less than usual. In addition, a change in the composition of the flock is an additional stress for the bird, due to which molt is often delayed. New birds can bring infection with them, and shedding chickens have weakened immunity.
When there is a suspicion of pathological molting, you should contact your veterinarian. The disease can affect both the entire herd and individual individuals. If the problem is found to be due to improper housing or feeding, it is corrected. Skin diseases (especially those caused by fungi) are sometimes very difficult to treat. Apply fungicides antibiotics, antiseptics. Parasites are fought with insecticides.
Feeding birds during molting
It is necessary to feed the laying hens correctly during molting. All essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals must be present in the feed. It is very important that a sufficient amount of the amino acids methionine and cysteine enter the body of chickens: they affect the synthesis of hormones, are building materials for future feathers.
The basic rules for feeding hens during this period are as follows:
- the amount of protein in the diet is increased to 22%;
- increase the amount of vegetables in the menu;
- introduce additional feeding in the evening;
- increase the amount of minerals due to chalk, shells, eggshells, table salt;
- give chickens vitamin supplements.
To provide the hens with the required amount of protein, they are given meat and bone meal, meat broths, cottage cheese, boiled egg. If it is possible to let chickens out into the yard, they themselves can find food with proteins: snails, worms, larvae, beetles, etc.
Vitamins are found in fresh vegetables and fruits. Chickens are given pumpkin, which ripens in autumn, zucchini, peeling apples and pears, mountain ash. Brewer's yeast, sunflower meal, wheat germ and wheat bran will be helpful. Grain and wet mash can be made with your own hands or you can buy ready-made feed, enriched with protein, vitamins and minerals.
In order not to feel losses from a decrease in egg production, the flock should contain birds of different ages, then they will not start molting at the same time. Some chickens will lay, others will change feathers. It is possible to shorten the molting time due to artificial lighting, proper feeding. Vitamins A, group B (primarily B1 and B3), D, E are introduced into the diet.
How long is the moulting period for hens? The duration of the normal process at home is 4-6 weeks. By winter, most birds already grow new feathers. If shedding is longer, consult a veterinarian or an experienced livestock technician.