Molting hens

[meknrth]

Our 10 hens have been molting and have not laid any eggs since the middle of November. How long do they usually quit laying when they molt. Most of them have their new feathers and look really good.

 

[Bandit]

Now that they have grown back their new feathers they are probably waiting for spring so they can lay eggs. You can encourage this to come earlier by putting a light in their coop for a couple or three hours a night right after dark and also raising the protein in their food. Also I swear by BOSS. Everytime I get sick of waiting for mine to restart laying, I give them a good shot of BOSS for a couple of weeks and voila! Eggs in the nesting box!

 

[meknrth]

What is BOSS-- I am new to this forum

 

[magoochie]

black oil sunflower seeds

Welcome!

 

[meknrth]

Do the sunflower seeds need to be shelled? I have some bird feed with black oiled sunflower seeds in it. Would these be Ok or is a special BOSS for chickens.

 

[nuchickontheblock]

Hi Meknrth!
regular bird seed type of sunflower seeds work fine.