Do molting chickens sit on the nest?

[OurLittleChickenFarm]

I have two hens who stopped laying a couple of months ago. They both have continued to go through the motions of laying. They sit in the nest boxes every day and sometimes even sing the egg song. They get off the nest and free range with the 8 young pullets. I'm guessing they are molting. My husband says they are done laying and will never lay again. I'm saying they are just molting and taking some time off. Just wondered if your molting chickens act like they are laying even though they are not. ???

 

[Kittymomma]

My molting RIR's do. The BR's don't seem to feel the need. but the other girls like their schedule--two of them are still laying an egg or two a week even though they're molting so badly that they look pre-plucked.

 

[gritsar]

I have one girl that "reported" to the nestbox every day the whole time she was molting. I just chalked it up to force of habit.