Frustrated with my pullets

well there are several things that can contribute to this. moulting and shorter days for example... so introducing tem to freezer and starting over, you will hit same next year...

 

Chickens do tend to slow or stop laying when the amount of daylight is reduced this time of year. One thing you can do is add light to their coop/pen so they are getting about 14 hours of light per day (adding it in the morning, not evening, works best.)

Also, it's possible you may be lowering the protein too far with the scratch and the sunflower seeds. 16% Layer pellets are formulated to provide basic, but the minimum nutrition for a flock. Personally, I prefer to use an 18% flock raiser for layers, and one that contains animal proteins as well. Chickens need animal protein, and this time of year there are fewer or no bugs or lizards to eat, so it's up to us to provide it for them.

There are a number of ways to include animal protein into your chickens diets:

- Find a feed that includes it, like Purina's Game Bird feed line
- Add in some cooked ground beef or raw trimmings from your local butcher shop if you can get them to give you some
- Add in a small amount of high quality, non-poultry based cat food, such as Evo Herring and Salmon dry cat food: http://www.evopet.com/products/1431, which is about 50% protein
- Add in some catfish feed pellets, which are generally about 35% protein.
- Add some 30% Turkey starter mixed into your regular ration.

That, plus adding light to the coop as described above, should bring back the laying.

Last resort, sprinkle a small amount of cayenne pepper on their feed, which will warm up their reproductive systems and kick start the laying again. But that should be done very sparingly.

Good luck!