Could this be because of mites?

[plum14]

I have been checking my hens quite thoroughly as they are not laying and wondered if it could be down to mites. Not seen anything untoward until today I found this bare kind of patch on one of my silver pencilled wyandottes. What do you people think?

 

[DobieLover]

How old are they? Molting is starting and that will affect egg production.

 

[plum14]

2 years old

 

[coach723]

Since there are new feathers there, I think it's probably molt. They don't lay and grow feathers at the same time. Laying will resume once molt is finished, or for some birds, since daylight hours are also decreasing, they may not start again til spring. Sometimes molt is so gradual (soft) that it's almost not noticeable and stopping laying is the first clue. Other birds may have a hard molt and look pretty bald for a while. Pin feathers is what to look for to determine if its molt.

 

[plum14]

Thanks @coach723 that's helpful - I was hoping for a few more eggs before they stopped for the season though