Autumn Hen Health: Cozy Coops, Happy Hens 🍂🐓

Autumn is here! The air is crisp, the leaves are crunching underfoot, and our flocks are busy swapping their summer feathers for a fresh winter wardrobe. While hens are pretty hardy girls, this is the season to keep a closer eye on their health and comfort. Let’s dive into the common autumn challenges and how you can keep your flock strutting happily through the season.

Soft-Shell Eggs – What’s Going On? 🥚

One of the quirks of autumn is the mysterious soft-shell egg. Imagine a water balloon instead of a crunchy shell – leathery, bendy, and a little weird.

Why does this happen?

• Feather priorities: During molting, hens divert calcium away from egg shells and into growing gorgeous new feathers.

• Diet gaps: Not enough calcium, protein, or vitamin D3.

• Stress: Pecking order scuffles and bullying can also throw egg production out of whack.

👉 Top Tip: Keep them on a good quality layer feed with plenty of calcium. Skip the junk-food treats during molting season (sorry, ladies!).

Helping a Hen with a Soft-Shell Egg 💪

Sometimes, the shell breaks before the egg comes out. This can leave fragments behind or even a flimsy membrane hanging out of the vent. If you’re confident, you can gently help by easing out fragments bit by bit while keeping your hen calm.

⚠️ If you feel resistance or see blood – stop right away and call the vet. With successful removal, most hens perk up almost instantly.

Adding a liquid calcium supplement (like Agrivite Enhance Feather Shell n Bone) in their water can work wonders during this stage.

Molting Madness – Don’t Panic! 😱➡️😅

First-time hen keepers often freak out when their coop looks like a feather pillow exploded. Relax – it’s just molting season!

Your hens (and even roosters) will shed old feathers to grow a snug new winter coat. It does mean egg production usually drops because all their energy is going into feather regrowth.

👉 Support them with:

• High protein & calcium feed

• Fresh water and grit

• Patience (and maybe fewer omelettes for a while!)

Watching new pin feathers poke through can be oddly satisfying – like seeing your hens glow-up in real time.

Autumn Coop TLC 🏡

With colder nights and wetter days ahead, now’s the time to spruce up your coop.

• Check fencing and patch any holes – predators are sneakier in the leaner months.

• Reinforce weak spots against wind and rain.

• Fresh, dry bedding is a must for warmth and comfort.

Think of it as giving your hens a five-star autumn retreat. A cozy coop = healthier, happier birds.

Final Cluck

Autumn can be a bit of a juggling act for hens, but with the right diet, a safe and snug coop, and a little TLC, your feathered friends will come through looking fabulous and ready to take on winter.

Happy hens, happy keeper – and don’t forget, a molting flock might look scruffy now, but just wait until they strut into winter with their shiny new feathers! 🌟🐔