1 across
First
of
the
chickens
moulting
as
programmes
finishing
once
(7,4)
First of the chickens moulting as programmes finishing once (7,4)
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The definition is at the end of the clue.
How the clue works
The first letter of the chickens gives us C, followed by LOSING DOWN for moulting (birds shedding their down feathers). Put them together and you get CLOSING DOWN, which is what television channels used to do at the end of the night — hence as programmes finishing once.