🍂 Autumn Moult Madness: What to Do When Your Hens Look Like Hedgehogs

Autumn has well and truly arrived—the air is crisp, the leaves are falling, and… your hens might suddenly look like they’ve been through a pillow fight. Yep, it’s moult season!

If your chooks are looking a little scruffy (or downright naked), don’t panic—this is totally natural. The autumn moult happens every year as daylight hours shorten (not because of the temperature, as many people think). During this time, hens shed their old feathers and grow a shiny new coat ready for winter.

Depending on your hen, this can be a quick tidy-up—or a full-on strip-down that leaves her looking like a hedgehog covered in pinfeathers. Either way, with the right care, she’ll be strutting around in a gorgeous new plumage before you know it.

🐓 Why Do Hens Moult?

Moult is nature’s way of giving your hens a fresh wardrobe. It usually happens in autumn, but stress—like a heavy mite infestation, broodiness, or a predator scare—can also trigger it. Prolific egg layers tend to have the hardest molts (because they’ve worked their little tail feathers off all year!).

Some hens only do a “mini-moult,” replacing just a few feathers, while others go full drama queen and shed almost everything at once. Both are normal.

🧼 Step 1: Health Check + Worming

Autumn is a perfect time to give your flock a once-over. With egg production slowing, you can focus on their overall health.

👉 Should you worm your hens? Opinions vary. Many hens can naturally manage worms if they’re free-ranging and well cared for. But if your birds came from crowded conditions or you suspect a heavy infestation, worming might be needed.

• Popular chemical options: Aviverm or vet-prescribed treatments (though these often mean withholding eggs).

• Natural helpers: BetaDrench or our fave—Stockmans Friend AHE (Apple Cider Vinegar with Garlic, Honey & Seaweed). While not a hardcore wormer, ACV is brilliant for boosting immunity and keeping hens in tip-top shape year-round.

🍳 Step 2: Feed for Feathers!

Here’s a fun fact: feathers are about 80% protein. So, when your hens are moulting, they need more protein to grow their new feathers strong and glossy.

🚫 Common mistake: switching to cheaper grains when hens stop laying. Grains are only around 12% protein, while moulting hens need 16–18% daily.

✅ Better plan: Keep them on a quality layer pellet or mash and then boost with protein-rich treats.

Great options include:

• Scratch & Lay grains – fun for foraging and coop cleaning.

• Poultry Pecker blocks – boredom busters packed with goodness.

• Dried mealworms – the ultimate protein-packed treat (your hens will LOVE you).

• Vitamin water mixes like Agrivite Poultry Drink – extra minerals and energy in one sip.

🧹 Step 3: Coop Clean-Up

Shorter days mean your hens will spend more time indoors, so a fresh, clean coop is a must.

• Give the coop a deep clean with a good disinfectant like Smite Professional.

• Dust nooks, perches, and nest boxes with Smite Organic to banish mites.

• Replace bedding with clean, dry wood shavings or chips.

A sparkling clean coop = happy, healthy hens all winter long.

🎉 Final Feathers

The autumn moult might make your flock look scruffy for a few weeks, but it’s really just nature’s spa treatment. With extra protein, a clean home, and maybe a few tasty treats, your girls will bounce back looking better than ever—ready to take on winter in style.

So, grab that bag of mealworms, top up their feeders, and get ready to welcome back your hens in their brand-new feather coats. ✨