Hen old or just molting?

[JustForHelp]

My hen is five or six years old, and at the beginning of spring, she wasn't laying. I figured it was too early, but even towards June and July she hadn't started.

At the end of July, she starting showing signs: hanging around the nest, eating a lot, and just making a bunch of racket. She even sat on other eggs! Still, no eggs. I'm not sure when her molt started, but I assume towrads the end of June. Is she just too old to lay or is it molting? Does molting affect laying? Please say molting...

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~Man I love Emojis
JUSTFORHELP

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Molting usually stops laying completely but normally it's not a spring thing. Normally it is an autumn thing and with most birds can start from August to September. Shorter days trigger it so they can grow a new down jacket before cold weather.
Molt can take a month to 5 months depending on the bird.
Feathers are 92% protein so they can't make them while kicking out a big blob of protein every day.
She's not too old to lay but since she hasn't laid yet this year, that indicates a problem.
I have a 6 year old Ameraucana that has laid at least 5 eggs a week starting in January. I'm sure she'll take a long break soon.
Each bird is different.
One unrelated issue is that you are probably feeding layer feed. If she hasn't laid this year, that's too much calcium.

 

[nchls school]

My hen is five or six years old, and at the beginning of spring, she wasn't laying. I figured it was too early, but even towards June and July she hadn't started.

At the end of July, she starting showing signs: hanging around the nest, eating a lot, and just making a bunch of racket. She even sat on other eggs! Still, no eggs. I'm not sure when her molt started, but I assume towrads the end of June. Is she just too old to lay or is it molting? Does molting affect laying? Please say molting...

….

Yes. Molting will effect laying, but molting does not last as long as you have mentioned. It is possible that she is laid out due to age. She might not be laying because of a lack in nutrition. She could be harboring a disease. There probably is other reasons.

What breed is she? Egg production hens will stop laying long before those breeds that go broody or are not big egg producers. I have one bantam hen still laying eggs at age 8. I've also had 10 year old bantams lay one egg and then brood and brood and brood.



~Man I love Emojis
JUSTFORHELP

 

[JustForHelp]

She's a mixed, but we do know for sure she's half rhode island red. She could be getting a lack of nutrition, but she always has access to water and Nature wise layer feed from Nutrena. (the water's not always fresh because of ducks and she's to lazy sometimes to go back to the coop {she hangs in the barn and woods} and jump on top of the nesting boxes for fresh water) We sometimes feed her scraps (don't worry- it's basically melon rhines, mushy fruits, and occasionally bread heels) So I'll see about adding scratch grains? Would oyster shells help? I know they help with egg shells, so could they help in any way?
Thanks BYC cummunity!

~Man I love Emojis
JUSTFORHELP

 

[nchls school]

She's a mixed, but we do know for sure she's half rhode island red. She could be getting a lack of nutrition, but she always has access to water and Nature wise layer feed from Nutrena. (the water's not always fresh because of ducks and she's to lazy sometimes to go back to the coop {she hangs in the barn and woods} and jump on top of the nesting boxes for fresh water) We sometimes feed her scraps (don't worry- it's basically melon rhines, mushy fruits, and occasionally bread heels) So I'll see about adding scratch grains? Would oyster shells help? I know they help with egg shells, so could they help in any way?
Thanks BYC cummunity!

~Man I love Emojis
JUSTFORHELP

I give my flock every table scrap we have that's suitable. The oyster shells may not help but it won't hurt either. So yes, give her the oyster shells.

 

[JustForHelp]

Thanks! We'll try!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

She's a mixed, but we do know for sure she's half rhode island red. She could be getting a lack of nutrition, but she always has access to water and Nature wise layer feed from Nutrena. (the water's not always fresh because of ducks and she's to lazy sometimes to go back to the coop {she hangs in the barn and woods} and jump on top of the nesting boxes for fresh water) We sometimes feed her scraps (don't worry- it's basically melon rhines, mushy fruits, and occasionally bread heels) So I'll see about adding scratch grains? Would oyster shells help? I know they help with egg shells, so could they help in any way?
Thanks BYC cummunity!

~Man I love Emojis
JUSTFORHELP

The oyster shells won't hurt but they won't do anything to stimulate laying. If you do offer them, they must be in a separate container and since she's not building egg shells she's likely getting excessive calcium right now from the layer feed (4% Ca).
If anything helps molt AND ovulation, it's more complete protein. Scratch grains will lower the overall protein since they're about 10% protein and your feed is 16%.
Most feeds are vegetable based and therefor have synthetic lysine, methionine and sometimes tryptophan added to make up for the essential amino acids missing in vegetative sources. Animal proteins contain all the essential amino acids.
I'd add a bit of meat or fish occasionally over scratch grains.