moulting

[Anonymous]

I am gathering from reading a few past posts that this is the time of year that chickens moult.
My bantam Daisy is losing feathers left right and centre, most are in the nesting box, and she is looking a bit bare around the back of her head, Is this normal. She stopped laying a few weeks back, just as my sussex started. The sussex is not moulting but she is younger , i dont know if that makes a difference. Is there anything i should be doing while she is moulting. Look forward to hearing your replies.

 

[foxy]

As a general rule hens go through their first moult in the late summer/autumn of their second year, this coincides with reduction in natural light triggering the "off" switch for laying. Sometimes young pullets have a "partial" moult which is losing a few feathers around the head and neck area, this type of moult can be associated with a shock or just simply a change of food.
If the moult is dramatic, I add a little poultry spice to their food and a small amount of fish flavoured kitten food just to help them along a little with replenishing minerals and protein needed in feather building.