Ep260 - Managing the Molt: The Costly Mistake of Cutting Protein and Weight

For serious gamefowl breeders and poultry keepers, molt isn’t just a downtime — it’s a genetic checkpoint and a vital phase that shapes your birds’ future health, performance, and breeding value. Yet many breeders unknowingly sabotage this crucial period with one common misstep: dropping protein and cutting weight too aggressively.

In this episode, we break down:

• What actually happens during the molt — physically, nutritionally, and behaviorally
• The risks of underfeeding fit birds during feather regrowth
• Why dropping protein and forcing weight loss can lead to brittle feathers, extended molt duration, weakened immunity, and long-term performance decline
• Smart, supportive strategies to help your birds recover fast and come back stronger
• How proper molt management preserves your bloodline’s resilience, immune strength, and conditioning foundation

Whether you’re aiming to maintain show-quality birds or prepare top-performing gamefowl for next season, understanding how to feed, condition, and support your flock during molt is non-negotiable. This isn’t just a feeding issue — it’s a breeding strategy.

Key Takeaway: Don’t starve your birds to "reset" them — support them to rebuild stronger.

Feed smart. Condition wisely. Breed for resilience. Let the molt reveal the strength of your line — not the weaknesses of your management.

Make sure to follow and watch our future shows. We plan to dive deep into the world of breeding and genetics, nutrition and health management, and provide essential tips, so you too can create high quality strains.  Whether you're breeding domestic chickens, gamefowl, or various types of livestock, this show is for you. 

Join us on Bred to Perfection Live, Friday’s at 6pm PST or 9pm EST on YouTube, as we discuss the benefits of creating your own strain.

See ya there!

Kenny Troiano

Founder of "The Breeders Academy" 

We specialize in breeding, and breeding related topics. This includes proper selection practices and the use of proven breeding programs. It is our mission to provide our followers and members a greater understanding of poultry breeding, poultry genetics, poultry health care and disease prevention, and how to improve the production and performance ability of your fowl. 

If you are interested in creating a strain, or improving your established strain, you are in the right place. 

We also want to encourage you to join us at the Breeders Academy, where we will not only help you increase your knowledge of breeding and advance your skills as a breeder, but improve the quality and performance of your fowl.

If you would like to learn more, go to: https://www.breedersacademy.com