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How can nutrition support a healthy moult?

The Country Smallholder

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September 2023

Andrew Fothergill, National Poultry Advisor at Farmgate explains the difference nutrition can make for your hens during moulting season.

- Andrew Fothergill

How can nutrition support a healthy moult?

As we head into early Autumn with the shorter days setting in, your hens will start their moulting season. This is the annual process where they lose their feathers and go-off lay whilst regrowing a new plumage. Your flock will go through moult at slightly different times, typically lasting 6-8 weeks, although the exact length and onset will vary for each bird. During moulting, your hens may not look in their best condition, but it is a natural process as they exchange their broken, loose feathers for new ones, ensuring they have a good coverage for the winter months.

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