Egg laying conundrum

[wickedvixen13]

After taking in my coworkers four adult chickens a week and a half ago they still aren’t laying eggs. She has told me that they do lay eggs, but she can’t remember how old they are. They seem to be eating a lot of food, and they love the grubs! Is there anything else that I can do to get them to start laying again? Additionally, every time I go into their coop there are a ton of feathers everywhere! Is this something I should be worried about as well?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Chickens often stop laying when stressed and rehoming is a huge stressor, so it wouldn't be unexpected for them to stop laying for a few weeks.

That said, you've mentioned feathers... and especially if these are older birds it's the time of the season for molting, which means they're now putting in their energy to regrowing feathers. Unfortunately for you that also means they're unlikely to lay again until day lengths start increasing again.