Any suggestions on what could be wrong, if anything? I'm more concerned about their health not that I'm not getting eggs.
Hi there, hope you are enjoying BYC!
Lat year your birds were still young and most lay through winter then.
Most birds do NOT lay during molt and usually don;t return to lay until daylight increases.. since lay hormone is regulated BY light and not temperature.
Feather fixer.. used to have sulfur in it and claim to combat mites.. but now usually has a little more protein and amino acids than "layer" which are both good for molt however the excess calcium in Feather Fixer is NOT needed for birds NOT in lay.. like your rooster.
Since making the switch to FLOCK RAISER with oyster shell on the side for active layer.. my older birds enter molt less harshly than year past AND return to lay sooner.. than when I used "layer". Feathers are made of 90% protein and it's amino acids..
Dual purpose birds like Wyandottes will do
best with at least 18% protein. The 16% in most layer feeds is meant to keep light bodied breed like Leghorn in laying condition.
Birds not in lay.. like those molting, brooding, juveniles, and roosters.. should NOT be fed calcium in excess of 3% long term as it
could (doesn't mean will), stunt growth, delay onset of laying, cause gout, and even kidney issues including failure and sudden death. Most will presume heart attack if they don't get a necropsy.. Most likely to happen in birds genetically predisposed somehow.. But not worth the long term risk to me.. as I've too much invested in my flock. I never use layer anymore and the difference is evident!
Adding your general location to your profile can help folks make their best suggestion possible at a glance. Most places in the northern hemisphere (I did see you said PA), are approaching out shortest day of the year on the 21st. As day light starts to increase again.. our birds will start to lay again! Some folks use artificial lighting to manipulate laying, It just adds to boredom for me so we go natural.. but you might consider it.
I wouldn't say you are doing anything wrong though. You might also check for external parasites like lice or mites.. but molting is one way they do naturally combat that. Checking after dark with a flashlight will give you the BEST picture.. part feathers below the bent and on the abdomen and look for angry red skin or crawlies running away or "dried dirt clumps" on feather shafts that weren't molted out. Feel free to post photos to show bird condition if you'd like some reassurance.
The only other things I can mention.. make sure you're not feeding excess treats. And consider having a (group) fecal float done to check internal parasite species and load and see IF anything needs treating and make sure to use the correct medication IF so.
Anyways, your flock sounds lovely and 1 month isn't that long yet for molt. I'd love to see a photo of them anyways, just because!
