Hens not laying:(

[Kacey I15]

It's awful...were used to getting so many eggs it looks like we might have to buy store eggs!

ewwwww

You can help speed up the time it takes from the to molt by increasing their protein. The more protein they have access to, the faster they grow those new feathers. Some will start laying again as soon as they finish molting, others might not lay again until spring is on the way.

Oh yeah, forgot about the protein. I toss mine some cat food and meal worms for protein :-D dog food works too

Yes ewwww is right!

one I think about what's in them and where they've been and how long it makes me think I might just have to go without eggs for a little bit

and what is the best thing for protein from the store?

 

[junebuggena]

You can switch them to an unmedicated chick starter or grower, both have a higher protein content than layer feed. You can give them a litte cat food each day, but be careful. It has a lot of salt in it which is bad for chickens. Don't give them treats that are low in protein while they are molting. Mealworms and sunflower seeds are good treats for molting birds.

 

[Kacey I15]

You can switch them to an unmedicated chick starter or grower, both have a higher protein content than layer feed. You can give them a litte cat food each day, but be careful. It has a lot of salt in it which is bad for chickens. Don't give them treats that are low in protein while they are molting. Mealworms and sunflower seeds are good treats for molting birds.

I've heard oyster shells how does that work?

 

[junebuggena]

Oyster shells are for calcium, not protein. Layer feed contains enough calcium for egg shell production. If you feed something other than layer feed, you will need to supplement the laying birds with crushed oyster shell in a separate dish.

 

[Kacey I15]

Oyster shells are for calcium, not protein. Layer feed contains enough calcium for egg shell production. If you feed something other than layer feed, you will need to supplement the laying birds with crushed oyster shell in a separate dish.

hopefully they start laying sooner

 

[eleaserek]

There is an actual "feather fixer" feed also that is higher protein for molting. And I second the mealworms and sunflower seeds, mine LOVE both and they will increase protein too