Fall around my property means more than just a change in season… It’s also a fall in egg production – in response to feathers falling off! Each year my flock goes through a yearly molt loosing a large portion of their older feathers and replacing them with new ones. There is so much energy consumed and nutritional depletion during this process there isn’t much left to produce an egg…
Here’s the link to an informational article on molting from the Mississippi State University Extension Service: Small Flock Management of Poultry – Molting of Laying Hens
My observations of a molting hen are: they aren’t as active, they resist being picked up, their combs seem smaller and less red and they stop laying eggs for an extended period.
This is a normal process for a chicken and eventually their beautiful feather colors and patterns return, but during this time when they’re not looking their best I do try to give them a few extra protein rich snacks. Since I started raising mealworms last year, it seemed appropriate to incorporate these protein rich treats into a suet type snack to offer my flock during the peak of their molt.
If you’re interested in raising your own mealworms, it’s really not that big of an undertaking. – Here’s the link to my set-up: DIY Raising Mealworms
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| Golden-laced Wyandotte before and during a molt! |
I based my mealworm chicken treats off the basic suet recipe that I make to offer the native backyard birds around my property – cardinals, wrens, woodpeckers and such. Here’s the link to a whole slew of DIY suet feeders I’ve made: DIY Suet Feeders
1 cup lard ~ You can render your own suet from beef fat (it’s an all day process), but I prefer purchasing lard, which is pork fat.
1 cup chunky peanut butter – salt-free and sugar-free
Melt the lard and peanut butter together, then add:
3 cups cornmeal
1/2 cup flour
3 cups layer feed
1 cup black oil sunflower seeds
1 cup mealworms
58 Comments
I would love to win this for my girls!
I have been researching on the best way to feed my chickens and I have found that meal worms are a good protein source. I have looked at them at the store and they are a bit expensive so when I read this I thought wow maybe I could win and get a free opportunity to try some.
My chickens meet me at the back door for their daily treat of mealworms. Your articles are interesting and educating.
Teri
Love all the info I get from this site
Thanks,
Linda
This mixture sounds like something my little girls would love! Hoping to win a bag. Really enjoying all the informative articles you’re posting…thanks for sharing.
This contest has ended. A winner was chosen by a random drawing…
Thanks for your comments!
the recipe looks easy except for the lard. My friend bought a pig and the butcher asked if he wanted the fat, he said sure. He looked up making lard and said he made great looking lard. I have 6 girls and they are good layers, love them. Loreta
Made these today, and they loved them, well one of them, I currently only have 5 girls, but have been looking for some more poults or pullets, not into going through the baby stages right now. Maybe this will help them start laying again. I know there is a Two Egg town here in FL, but I now have Two Egg farm.
I have a ton of feathers all over the yard and get a good laugh with their nakedy looks… I’d like to try your treats. esteembuilder@gmail.com
Thanks
I’ll be making that for my flock! Thanks for the recipe. Gaylagt@aol.com
Can’t wait to try this recipe. I know my girls will love it
lindawilkey25@hotmail.com
I have a little Mille Fleur d’Uccle that comes running when I step out the back door. She knows that there are mealworms in the trunk by the door. She jumps up on the trunk, which I have to sooosh her off of and then she jumps to my arm. I know my little “Mutton Chop” would love to try your WORMS AND HARVEST FLAKES. cindersga@hotmail.com Thank you so much!
Thank you. oceantidal@hotmail.com
I will have to try your recipe. Except for the mealworms it looks good enough to eat! Our girls would like to enter your drawing as well! Thanks so much! loribsemail@gmail.com
Warming it up as a porridge for the girls sound good! ksjtmj@yahoo.com
I’m sure they would love them!
Hi, it’s nice to give my hens a treat once in a while….they provide me with eggs and
entertainment. Your prize would be appreciated by them.
Linda V. here in SE WI! Very informative and helpful article! I am looking forward to using the recipe – our girls are nearing the end of their molt, but I’m sure the treat would be greatly appreciated regardless!
slaclr@hotmail.com
Congratulations Linda! You’re the winner! Check your email for more info…
nice article, I have several girls molting and could use a good source of protein for them.
My hens are currently molting, so would love to try your treats!
My babies would love this, thanks for the opportunity !
deenamac@gmail.com
We’ve never bought meal worms for our flock of 13 chickens but would love to try a bag.
michkarling@yahoo.com
My girls love meal worms. I might set up a growing facility this winter. Thanks for the inspiring recipe.
I need to try something, my girl’s look so pathetic! They do love mealworms <3
I will be adding this recipe to my binder of tips for raising and keeping chickens. Thank you for the recipe. tbiagioni@cox.net
I think I must try this recipe for my peepers! sandrada@windstream.net
I am going to make this recipe for my hens. Are the mealworms alive when you stir them in? I have been using freeze dried worms. shar50@frontier.com
HAVE A LARGE FLOCK THEY ARE MOLTING RIGHT NOW WOULD LOVE TO TRY YOUR PRODUCT ON SOME OF THEM AND SEE HOW IT HELPS. THANK YOU. PACERSOLOMON@AOL.COM
My girls definitely need help with their feathers growing in… shetan83 at yahoo dot com.
It’s that time of the year. I haven’t had an egg for a couple of weeks now
Thanks for the informative article. I have a lot of molting hens that have stopped laying. sknitta@hotmail.com
laurieledoux@yahoo.com
What a great way to spoil my girls. Fall/winter is really tuff on them while they are molting (very cold). Any way to give them more nutrition the better. Thinking of diving in and raising my own worms. It does sound pretty easy. The $36.00 a bag gets expensive. Thanks for sharing with all of us.
Molt is on … and the chickens love protein … surubet2@gmail.com
Thanks for the recipe for suet cakes. My girls are molting now and we have been feeding meal worms. They would love this treat! lckochert@gmail.com
I have several hens molting right now. Thank you for the recipe. Please enter me in your contest. postaldawg34@windstream.net
I would like to be entered in your giveaway. Hens are molting right now. Egg production practically zero. I can’t wait for the hens to begin laying again.
My girls would love this treat. Please enter me in your contest maryyucaipa@aol.com
I am at the tail end of the molt I hope. This is my 1st experience in molting & someone suggested feeding kitten food to help with the protein leval. Egg production is starting slowly to increase. crittersrme9@hotmail.com
I’ve only been raising chickens since May 2013 so I haven’t experienced molting yet. I appreciate the recipe. Enter me in your contest, ttreadaway@gmail.com. Thanks!
My ladies are just starting to molt..
I look forward to trying this suet recipe
for the ladies and feathered friends this
winter.
Love to make things like this for my girls. Will have to try this one. Thanks! spggwolf@msn.com
My sister will love this. Thank-you. jonfrito1@hotmail.com
carolmossburg@yahoo.com
Your information has always been so helpful.
I always look forward to reading your blog.
Thank you.
Great idea. thanks for the recipe. 🙂
Thanks for the give away.
Lawanda_rnc@yahoo.com
Girls would enjoy a new treat. tijoe98@yahoo.com
Sounds good enough to eat!
rkbtp@yahoo.com
Great contest! We give our chickens clam shells to nibble on to strengthen the outer egg shells!
Thanks for the recipe my hens will love them. Donnarus@optonline.net
I have not yet esperienced this “shell-less” egg so I will know what to look for in the future. I am still waiting for my Ameracauna (8 months old) to lay.
fedderson_fam@hotmail.com
Enter me in your t-shirt giveaway
We have a couple of moulting Aracunas right now — would love to try this! bellagoodvt at yahoo.com
We got a few hens last September and they are molting right now. I read about molting, so I knew what to expect, mostly. Thanks for the recipe!!!
r PLEP @ yahoo dot com
Would love to try this. Undergoing a molt right now! heidi_edge@yahoo.com
Mine would love this…they are definitely in the molting process! luvtodream@att.net
Thanks for the giveaway and recipe – we have a hen that is molting right now and I bet she’d love these treats! carmen99 @ asimplehomestead dot com
My girls would love a treat! mmcmillen AT macnet DOT com
Anything to help with the molt!!
Thanks, Bonnie Martin itagisse67@att.net