Feathers and egg laying

[chickenman111]

I have 18 hens that are 1 year old. I had been getting 15 eggs average. now I'm getting 1 egg a day. the hens are missing the feathers on their back (rough roosters) and I started feeding them pea and barley fodder. they've started growing new feathers on their bare backs now since I fed the fodder. is the reduced laying just the feathers growing back.
Please any advice is appreciated.

 

[crested1990]

Its called moulting. A hen will do this this once a year and virtually stop laying in order to use the nutrients in their diet for feather growth instead of egg-laying. Its basically shedding feathers because everything goes into the eggs and not feather health. Also they do this because its a break from laying and gives their body a break. It sounds like they are in the end part of the moult and will be back to laying in no time hope this helps.

 

[chickenman111]

Thanks