That's what I do. If I suspect they are laying "out," I will keep them confined in the run for a week to 10 days to "re-home" them to use the nests, especially in early spring if they haven't been laying for a while. It's a large run so they're not suffering any. This usually serves to remind them of their responsibilities. Then I start letting them free range for a few hours in the afternoon and gradually increase their free time over the next couple of weeks.
They are molting. They are eating laying pellets along with scratch grains.
They don't lay during molt. Make sure that have a nice protein feed and minimal scratch
most hens stop laying during molting.
yes but by that time it will probably be closer to winter so they will be stopping again or slowing down egg laying
Depends on the breed, age of bird, location, supplemental lighting, etc. so a more succinct way to put it would be to say “when they’re ready.”
