Some hens molt a lot faster than others. With some it is a couple of months (I think my Australorp was faster than that) With some it is 5 months. Here are a couple of links that discuss it. If you read both, I think they'll help you understand it better. Mississippi State describes molting http://msucares.com/poultry/management/poultry_feathers.html Kansas State feather loss http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/library/lvstk2/mf2308.pdf Some of mine start laying real soon after a molt is finished. Some take a while. Some lay better in cold weather than others. I think the real answer to your quetion is that it varies by the individual.
Quote:It depends whether it's a mini molt or a full blown molt. A mini molt could take a few weeks more or less. A full blown molt could take several months more or less.
