Hens stopped laying

[NewAtThis8]

My chickens were on antibiotics for 10 days for GI infection. They’ve been off since Sunday (today is Wednesday), and were laying pretty consistently for the duration of their treatment but now all but 1 of them has stopped, for the past 3 days. Is this normal? Expected to be throwing them away anyway but I wanted to make sure there isn’t anything else that could be going on now… also probably is hot and molting season (i can’t tell if they ARE molting because most of them are balding in patches because I have a feather eater- working on that)…. I did up their protein this past month to 20% (Kalmbach full plume feed) and do see many pin feathers. My ducks are molting so that’s what makes me wonder if the chickens are, too. Anway, regarding the post-antibiotic thing, is this potentially the cause or is it more likely the latter? Has anyone gone through this before and able to ease my worries?

 

[dennisma1]

If they look healthy dont worry. How old are your hens? where do you live? Its a little early for the molt in New England.

 

[NewAtThis8]

If they look healthy dont worry. How old are your hens? where do you live? Its a little early for the molt in New England.

They’re about 1.5 years now- we’ve never experienced a full molt yet because they were too young last year I think. I’m in PA, it’s been very fall-like the past several weeks but this week / today in particular it’s a heat wave and feels like 105!

 

[dennisma1]

Could also be the heat though i imagine it's been hot before this. You might also be sure nest box is dry and clean and they just arent laying elsewhere.

 

[Yardmom]

I'm in PA as well. My birds are still laying (may be slowed a bit), but my neighbors said theirs have stopped. A few of my broodies are molting, my rabbits and horses have definitely been shedding summer coats for winter. Heavy sweatshirts last week and back to swimming this week.