Protein Needs, Molting, and Extra Support

Feathers are about 85% protein (mostly keratin), so a hen going through the annual fall molt is essentially rebuilding her whole coat out of protein while egg production tanks. During molt, bump the flock to 18-20% protein (all-flock or a grower feed) for 6-8 weeks. Good molt-support treats: scrambled eggs, black oil sunflower seeds, mealworms (see the mealworm entry for the FDA caveat), sardines packed in water, cooked lentils, pumpkin seeds. Skip the low-protein scratch grain during molt, it dilutes the diet right when the birds need the opposite. Growing chicks, breeding roosters, and birds recovering from injury also do better on the 18-20% range. Signs of protein shortage: slow feather regrowth, pale ragged feathers, feather picking in the flock, low egg production well after molt should have ended.