Molting and egg laying

[Jlgonzo]

6 of my 7 chickens molted this fall. The 2 barred rocks started in early October followed by the 2 easter eggers and then the buff orpington and one leghorn. By late December the barred rocks started somewhat laying again and then the Easter eggers. The final leghorn, who is top chicken and my first layer, started molting and stopped laying two weeks ago. She was my only layer when the others were molting. As soon as she started molting and stopped laying, so did my barred rocks but my Easter eggers continue to lay regularly.
Is it normal to have a chicken molt so late and can their molting affect the others in laying?

 

[rosemarythyme]

While most chickens naturally molt in fall you may get some early birds in summer, or some late ones in winter.

I don't think molting directly affects laying, however indirectly it could have some effect in the sense that molting can cause some pecking order jostling, as birds get testy during molt.