Why are my chickens losing their feathers?

Chickens lose their feathers for several reasons: being picked on by other chickens, stress, poor diet, heat, mites and lice overload, and/or for their annual molt.

Coop Spacing

Chickens pick on each other if they are over crowded and/or bored. Consider the below specifications for healthy birds.

Indoor Coop: allow 3–4 sq. ft. per standard bird (2 sq. ft. for small bantams, 4–6 sq. ft. for large breeds).

Outdoor Run: 8–10 sq. ft. per bird.

Roost Space: 8–10 inches of linear perch space per bird.

Natural Dust Bathing

To clean their feathers, chickens need access to loose dirt, sand, and/or bedding material in which to dust bathe. This is how they knock mites and lice out of their feathers. To control a current pest problem, give your flock a pan of wood ash and/or sand as a natural pest repellent. Consider adding diatomaceous earth as well.

Molting

In their second year of age, chickens will begin annually molting. They shed their feathers in mid-summer to grow in shiny new feathers to shed water and keep them warm during the coming winter. Hens will often cease laying eggs during molt, because they need their body energy to grow new feathers.

Shading Up

Chickens cool themselves by holding their wings aways from their body and open-beak panting. To help them stay cool, ensure they have adequate shade and air ventilation that catches the breeze.