Chickens not laying? First molt?

[Farmgirl217]

Hey everyone!

So I recently had my one year "chicken-anniversaryy" (lol yayyy!!). I have four EE girls, and they just went through their first molt. Egg production decreased about a month ago, but I haven't gotten any eggs for the past week or so. Their feathers seem to be starting to come back in a little bit. Not sure how long this will last and if I can do anything to help them out?

Thanks guys!

 

[Gray Farms]

Molting can to take up to 3 months to complete. Higher protein feed can sometimes help.

 

[ChickenLeg]

My ameraucanas use to molt then not lay for 2-4 months depending on the specific chicken. If you put them on a light to increase the day hours they might start laying earlier, but I let mine do the natural thing and take a chill pill til spring.

 

[RWise]

I use lights (AM 13.5 hours) all winter to maintain some eggs. Also a high protein feed, I use purina startina game bird chow, and oyster/egg shell free gratis. My girls are of many ages from 3 months to 9 years, I like this as the young girls (5 MOs) are just starting to fire up, as the older girls are going into molt.

 

[aart]

Molting can to take up to 3 months to complete. Higher protein feed can sometimes help.

Yep, lights can shorten that time.