Molting and egglaying

[nagem92]

I have 1 year old chickens. A little more than a month ago that stopped laying eggs and started molting. How much longer till they start laying egg again. The had only just started laying eggs for a couple of weeks before the molt and now they aren't again. We've put a lot into them and haven't gotten much out of them. we have 19 hens. 0 eggs.

Thank you!

 

[Ilovemychicks08]

It depends. How long have they been molting? And are they missing a lot of feathers or almost dont?
My chickens usually molt right before winter and dont lay again until spring or i get a few eggs here and there. I dont add light.
If they arent laying feed them i higher protein feed like chick feed instead of layer feed. It helps mine molt faster.

 

[aart]

I have 1 year old chickens. A little more than a month ago that stopped laying eggs and started molting. How much longer till they start laying egg again. The had only just started laying eggs for a couple of weeks before the molt and now they aren't again. We've put a lot into them and haven't gotten much out of them. we have 19 hens. 0 eggs.

Thank you!

They are 12 months old and they just started laying 6 weeks ago?
Need more detailed info @nagem92 .
What all and how exactly are you feeding?
Do they free range?
What breed(s) are they?

Oh, and....
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[nagem92]

It depends. How long have they been molting? And are they missing a lot of feathers or almost dont?
My chickens usually molt right before winter and dont lay again until spring or i get a few eggs here and there. I dont add light.
If they arent laying feed them i higher protein feed like chick feed instead of layer feed. It helps mine molt faster.

It’s been a long time. They were born last august. Didn’t start laying until this spring. They only laid for a few weeks before they started molting. They don’t look bad but there are soooo many feathers everywhere. I have roosters and chicks in there too. So we feed them a mixed flock and supplement calcium for the hens.

 

[nagem92]

They are 12 months old and they just started laying 6 weeks ago?
Need more detailed info @nagem92 .
What all and how exactly are you feeding?
Do they free range?
What breed(s) are they?

Oh, and....
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!
View attachment 3913074

They were born last august. Didn’t start laying until this spring. They only laid for a few weeks before they started molting. I have roosters and chicks in there too. So we feed them a mixed flock and supplement calcium for the hens. I’m in Tennessee. They do not free range. They are a mixed flock. Barred rock, RIR, Orpington,

They are 12 months old and they just started laying 6 weeks ago?
Need more detailed info @nagem92 .
What all and how exactly are you feeding?
Do they free range?
What breed(s) are they?

Oh, and....
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!
View attachment 3913074

They were born last august. Didn’t start laying until this spring. They only laid for a few weeks before they started molting. I have roosters and chicks in there too. So we feed them a mixed flock and supplement calcium for the hens. they do not free range. We live in TN. It is a mixed flock of RIR, Orpington, barred rock, Jersey giant, and Wyandotte.

 

[Mama Lyle]

For about a few weeks I have noticed the other chicks pecking at Ms Pecker back and sometimes they yank out her feathers.
Idk if she is molting and they are trying to help her or being meanings.
This morning I noticed her skin looks like it was cooked, the surface of her skin is hard and has bloody spots.

 

[rosemarythyme]

For about a few weeks I have noticed the other chicks pecking at Ms Pecker back and sometimes they yank out her feathers.
Idk if she is molting and they are trying to help her or being meanings.
This morning I noticed her skin looks like it was cooked, the surface of her skin is hard and has bloody spots.

This isn't molting it's feather picking, which is a completely different issue.

 

[Mama Lyle]

This isn't molting it's feather picking, which is a completely different issue.

Ok thank you for the info @rosemarythyme
Anyone know what I could try get the other girls stop pecking at her?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Ok thank you for the info @rosemarythyme
Anyone know what I could try get the other girls stop pecking at her?

A few things to consider trying (without knowing size of flock, size and layout of coop and run, etc):

- more space overall
- more clutter and other things to keep them busy in the run, or free ranging to keep them occupied
- increasing protein % in feed (if you're feeding layer, it's usually 16%, so you'd want to bump it to 18-20%)
- pinless peepers on the birds that are doing the picking

 

[Mama Lyle]

A few things to consider trying (without knowing size of flock, size and layout of coop and run, etc):

- more space overall
- more clutter and other things to keep them busy in the run, or free ranging to keep them occupied
- increasing protein % in feed (if you're feeding layer, it's usually 16%, so you'd want to bump it to 18-20%)
- pinless peepers on the birds that are doing the picking

The run we built is big enough for up to 15-20 chickens, we only have 8.
They do seem bored. My hubby is looking into getting them a feed bag I can place lettuce and apples in, and some bird activity toys.
I'm not sure about letting them free range yet, I'm worried they will get lost in the woods and not come to me at dawn to go into their coop. We do have coyotes.