Molting

Shorter days and cooler temperatures... For people, its a sign that it is back to school time and fall. To chickens, its a sign that it is time to renew their feathers. Losing feathers and re-growing them is called molting and occurs every year when the days get shorter. During molt, chickens typically stop laying eggs and use that time to build up their nutrient reserves. Reduce stress as much as possible. Both roosters and hens go through molt. So don't panic when your chickens start losing their feathers and stop laying eggs.