Chickens molting not laying and we are still feeding them layer feed..

[SpotJL]

Our four 2 year old hens have not been laying for a while, they are molting. Should we still be feeding them the layer pellets they usually eat?

 

[BantamLover21]

Feeding them layer feed while they're molting is fine. Since their bodies are mature, extra calcium won't hurt them (to a certain extent). I've fed layer feed to my hens for the past four years while they've been molting, and all of them are perfectly healthy.

To help them molt faster, though, it is often recommended to feed them higher protein, lower calcium feed like gamebird grower feed. The extra protein helps them grow their feathers in.

 

[SpotJL]

We've also been giving them freeze dried meal worms and bsf larvae we find in our compost bin, for additional protein.

 

[BantamLover21]

We've also been giving them freeze dried meal worms and bsf larvae we find in our compost bin, for additional protein.

Those are great things to be giving them while they're molting.