Egg decrease and molting

[Lyons Den]

Hi Everyone!!
We have 10 hens of various breeds (mostly RIR). They all get along fairly well. We have in the last 3 months received between 6-8 eggs a day at least. Within the last week, we have noticed feathers and pecking behavior with our ladies, although I cannot tell which ones of the RIR are molting right now. There are several feathers all over the coop and run but no bald spots yet not the hens. Our egg production has pretty much come to a grinding halt! The temperature around here dropped from average mid 90s to 60-70s during the day and now back in the 80s (Typical for this area). I figured it might be a combo of molting and temp changes. Is there anything i can do to get egg production back up or do we have to wait for the molting to finish up? Is it normal for egg production to stop when molting?

 

[Chickassan]

Eggs will come back after the molt several weeks after. Completely normal, only thing you can do is boost protein.

 

[aart]

How old are your birds?
They typically molt in the fall at about 18 months of age(give or take a couple months).
Molting, and cessation of lay, is triggered by shortening days, not temperatures.
Most stop laying when molting.
Look for pin feathers but gently as they can be sensitive.
More protein will help feathers grow.

 

[Lyons Den]

they are all a little over 18 months old. They have a good amount of sunlight and good calcium rich food. Should I switch their food this soon?

 

[aart]

they are all a little over 18 months old. They have a good amount of sunlight and good calcium rich food. Should I switch their food this soon?

Day length in Dallas today is just under 11 hours.
Bird need 12-14 hours of day length to lay.
Supplemental lighting is needed for most chickens to lay all winter.

I like to feed a flock raiser/starter/grower/finisher type feed with 20% protein crumble full time to all ages and genders, as non-layers(chicks, males and molting birds) do not need the extra calcium that is in layer feed and chicks and molters can use the extra protein. Makes life much simpler to store and distribute one type of chow that everyone can eat. I do grind up the crumbles (in the blender) for the chicks for the first week or so.

The higher protein crumble also offsets the 8% protein scratch grains and other kitchen/garden scraps I like to offer. I adjust the amounts of other feeds to get the protein levels desired with varying situations.
Calcium should be available at all times for the layers, I use oyster shell mixed with rinsed, dried, crushed chicken egg shells in a separate container. I also regularly offer digestive granite grit in the appropriate size, throw it out on the ground with the scratch. http://www.jupefeeds-sa.com/documents/GraniteGrit.pdf.

Animal protein (a freshly trapped mouse, mealworms, a little cheese - beware the salt content, meat scraps) is provided once in while and during molting and/or if I see any feather eating.