How long do they molt???

[JudyMcKinn]

Gads! How long do hens molt, and when do they start laying again? I am getting sort of discouraged and disgusted. It's been about 2 months now. My hens that looked the worst have big pin feathers starting to cover their bald spots, but my laying pen of 20 just gives me 3 to 5 eggs a day, and I think they are from the 3 Leghorns and 2 Americanas I got from a neighbor whose coop burned down. My 15 are doing pretty well nix. If they don't get with the program pretty soon, it will be the sale barn, unless someone here can give me some encouragement, in the form of experience on when they should start in again.
I am feeding game bird feed for high protein to help with the feather growing, but do they appreciate it?? Apparently not. LOL

 

[silkiechicken]

There are fast and slow molters. Some of my fastest ones take about a month to go though their heavy moult, while one of my slow ones is taking about 3 months... and still doesn't have tail feathers.

 

[JudyMcKinn]

And you aren't getting any eggs thru this, either?

 

[silkiechicken]

Well, I have hens at all different ages so I am still getting eggs. To make issues worse with my slow molter, she went broody half way though. I don't think she's laid an egg for 4 months! She sat for two months and is now toting around a chick. Shes going on 3 years old in the spring.

I have I think 10 hens of laying age, with about 30 birds I think, and get about 3 eggs a day, maybe 4 if I am lucky.

 

[hinkjc]

Judy - sometimes slow molters will continue to lay right thru their molt. I can't be certain, but I don't think the fast molters lay..too much on their systems and I've never seen one in the nest box half naked, laying eggs. lol

Jody

 

[elliemb]

Some of mine are molting horribly too!! For me the slow down in egg laying is probably due to less light as well. As soon as it is a tad colder I keep a heat light going at all times and the laying picks up again. They are on vacation for the moment!!

 

[wynedot55]

some hens molt for 3 or more months.an some hens dont lay at all while molting.an some hens lay while they molt.