Autumn is an important transition period for any chicken keeper. Days become shorter, temperatures begin to fall and wet, windy weather can quickly replace the warmth of summer.
At the same time, many chickens are going through their annual moult, egg production may begin to slow and birds can face additional nutritional and environmental demands.
That means keeping chickens in autumn is largely about preparation. A few changes to your routine now can help your flock head into winter in the best possible condition.
From checking the coop and managing the moult to reviewing nutrition and watching for parasites, here’s what to focus on this autumn.
1. Help Your Chickens Through the Autumn Moult
One of the most obvious changes you may notice during autumn is feathers everywhere.
For most adult chickens, an annual moult is completely normal. Old feathers are shed and replaced with a fresh set, helping provide effective insulation for the colder months ahead.
Some hens seem to moult gradually, while others can suddenly look surprisingly scruffy.
Growing a new coat of feathers places additional nutritional demands on the bird. Feathers are predominantly made from protein, so good-quality nutrition is particularly important during this period.
Make sure the foundation of the diet remains an appropriate, nutritionally balanced poultry feed rather than filling birds up on treats.
For birds that could benefit from additional nutritional support, Aviform's poultry supplement range includes products formulated to complement normal flock management.
MULTIVIT STUFF! All-in-One Chicken Multivitamin and Conditioner, for example, provides a combination of 13 vitamins, eight trace elements and minerals, amino acids, a probiotic and a prebiotic. It can be a useful nutritional addition during demanding periods such as moulting and seasonal change.
2. Expect Egg Production to Change
If your previously reliable layers suddenly start producing fewer eggs as autumn arrives, don't immediately assume something is wrong.
Day length plays an important role in laying behaviour, and naturally decreasing daylight can lead to reduced egg production.
Moulting can add to the effect because producing a complete set of new feathers requires significant resources. A hen's body may effectively prioritise feather renewal over egg production.
Age, breed, nutrition, health and individual variation all influence how much egg production changes.
Rather than trying to force production, focus on keeping your flock healthy and well nourished.
Continue providing a balanced layers feed where appropriate, constant access to clean drinking water and suitable sources of calcium.
For laying birds requiring additional calcium support, SHELL STUFF! is available within Aviform's poultry range in liquid and powder formulations.
3. Get the Chicken Coop Ready for Wet Weather
Autumn in the UK often means one thing: rain.
Keeping the coop dry becomes increasingly important as persistent wet weather arrives.
Inspect your chicken house before the worst weather sets in. Check the roof for leaks, examine timber for damage and make sure doors, hinges and locks are working properly.
Pay particular attention to ventilation.
It's tempting to seal every opening as temperatures fall, but chickens still need good airflow. Poor ventilation can allow moisture and ammonia to accumulate inside the coop.
The aim is a house that is dry and well ventilated without exposing roosting birds to strong draughts.
4. Keep Bedding Clean and Dry
Wet bedding quickly makes a chicken house unpleasant.
Regularly remove damp or heavily soiled material and replace it with fresh, dry bedding. Pay particular attention to areas underneath perches and around entrances where moisture can accumulate.
Your cleaning schedule may need to become more frequent during prolonged periods of wet autumn weather.
A dry coop doesn't just make your chickens more comfortable; it also makes it much easier to monitor droppings and notice potential changes in flock health.
5. Don't Forget About Red Mite
Red mite problems are commonly associated with warmer weather, but autumn isn't a reason to stop checking.
Inspect your coop regularly, paying particular attention to:
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Perch ends
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Cracks and crevices
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Nest boxes
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Joints in timber
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Areas underneath removable fittings
Regular cleaning and inspection make it easier to spot a problem before it becomes established.
Aviform's poultry range includes Mitey Stuff! Red Mite Liquid Supplement, Mitey-X Stuff! Red Mite Powder and the Mitey Bundle as part of its red mite support range.
Whatever products form part of your management programme, good coop hygiene and regular physical inspection should remain fundamental.
6. Support Digestive Health During Seasonal Changes
Autumn can bring several changes at once.
Birds may spend less time ranging, consume different quantities of vegetation and insects and experience changes to their daily routine as daylight hours shorten.
Keep their main diet consistent and nutritionally complete, and avoid suddenly introducing large amounts of new foods.
Monitor droppings too. Changes in consistency can sometimes be associated with diet, but persistent diarrhoea, blood, significant changes in appetite, weight loss or a generally unwell bird require closer investigation and appropriate veterinary advice.
For birds requiring additional digestive support, DIGESTIVE STUFF! Probiotic Chicken Recovery Supplement is part of Aviform's poultry range and is designed to provide targeted probiotic and nutritional support.
7. Keep Water Available - Even When It's Cold
Water can sometimes receive less attention once hot summer days are over, but chickens require constant access to clean, fresh drinking water throughout the year.
Wash drinkers regularly and position them where they are less likely to become contaminated with mud or bedding.
As winter approaches, start thinking about freezing conditions too. Water can freeze surprisingly quickly during a cold night, so establish a routine that ensures birds have access to fresh, unfrozen water each morning.
If you use heated drinkers or other electrical equipment, make sure they are specifically suitable for the environment and installed safely.
8. Prepare the Run for Mud
A grassy chicken run in September can turn into a mud bath remarkably quickly.
Heavy foot traffic combined with autumn rain can strip vegetation and create wet, churned-up areas around feeders, drinkers and coop entrances.
Think about drainage before winter arrives.
Moving feeders and drinkers, providing covered areas and protecting particularly vulnerable patches can help. The best solution will depend on your setup, flock size and soil type.
Providing a dry, sheltered area is particularly valuable because it gives chickens somewhere to scratch, forage and dust bathe when the rest of the run is wet.
9. Watch Body Condition
Feathers can hide a surprising amount.
A chicken may appear perfectly well covered while losing body condition underneath its plumage, so autumn is a good time to become familiar with the physical condition of individual birds.
Handle your chickens regularly where practical and appropriate. Pay attention to the breastbone and surrounding muscle rather than relying solely on appearance.
Unexpected weight or condition loss can have numerous causes, including parasites, nutritional problems and illness, so significant changes shouldn't be ignored.
10. Consider General Nutritional Support
A complete, correctly formulated poultry feed should remain the foundation of your flock's diet.
Supplements should complement good nutrition rather than compensate for an inadequate basic feeding programme.
During periods of increased nutritional demand, however, targeted supplementation can be useful.
Total Health Stuff! All-in-One Chicken Tonic is Aviform's general nutritional tonic for supporting overall flock condition, while MULTIVIT STUFF! provides a broad combination of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, probiotic and prebiotic ingredients.
For keepers who want several products available for different flock needs, Aviform also offers a Flock Wellness Pack, bringing together multiple poultry supplements in one pack.
Explore the full Aviform Chicken & Poultry Supplement range to choose products according to the needs of your individual flock.
11. Think About Respiratory Health as Winter Approaches
Colder months often mean chickens spend more time around the coop and sheltered areas, making good ventilation particularly important.
Keep housing clean, dry and well ventilated, minimise excessive dust and regularly check individual birds.
Watch for signs such as persistent sneezing, nasal or eye discharge, noisy breathing, open-mouth breathing, lethargy or a noticeable decline in condition.
Respiratory symptoms can have numerous causes, including infectious disease, so don't rely on supplements to manage a sick bird. Seek veterinary advice when you are concerned.
For general nutritional respiratory support, Aviform also produces RESPIRATORY STUFF! Respiratory Supplement for Chickens as part of its poultry range.
12. Make Your Winter Checklist Now
The best time to discover a problem with your winter chicken setup isn't during the first freezing, wet night of the year.
Use autumn to work through the essentials:
Housing: Is the coop weatherproof, secure and adequately ventilated?
Bedding: Do you have enough dry bedding stored for winter?
Feed: Can you keep feed dry and protected from rodents?
Water: What's your plan when temperatures drop below freezing?
Run: Does your flock have somewhere sheltered and relatively dry?
Nutrition: Is their core diet appropriate, and do any birds require additional targeted nutritional support?
Health: Have you checked body condition, feet, feathers and general behaviour?
Parasites: Are you continuing routine checks of both your chickens and their housing?
Predators: Are doors, fencing, mesh and locks secure as the nights become longer?
A little preparation now can save a great deal of trouble in December and January.
Keeping Chickens in Autumn: Preparation Is Key
Keeping chickens in autumn doesn't have to mean completely changing how you manage your flock.
Instead, think of autumn as your opportunity to prepare.
Support birds through the moult with good-quality nutrition. Keep housing dry while maintaining adequate ventilation. Stay alert for parasites and changes in health. Prepare your run for wetter conditions and make sure your winter feed, bedding and water arrangements are ready before they're urgently needed.
Most importantly, spend time observing your chickens.
You know what normal behaviour looks like within your flock. Changes in appetite, activity, droppings, breathing, weight or behaviour are often easier to recognise when you're checking birds every day.
With good husbandry, appropriate nutrition and a little forward planning, your chickens can head into winter healthy, comfortable and ready for the colder months ahead.
Supporting Your Flock This Autumn
Aviform's Chicken & Poultry Supplements include targeted products for general nutrition, moulting and conditioning, digestive support, calcium requirements, respiratory support and red mite management.
Browse Aviform Chicken & Poultry Supplements
Supplements should be used alongside an appropriate balanced diet and good poultry husbandry. They are not a substitute for veterinary diagnosis or treatment. If a bird is showing persistent or significant signs of illness, seek appropriate veterinary advice.