Molting & not laying eggs?

[brittanys22]

I have 2 Brahma Hens that are molting? Is this normal for them? Going into winter.. and they also stop laying eggs few weeks ago. Just making sure this is normal..

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Depending on the age of your birds and you are somewhere in the Northern Hemisphere, it is perfectly normal. Most birds entering their second autumn and every year thereafter will molt. They usually won't lay eggs while they are molting for three reasons. It takes a lot of protein to grow a new winter coat and can't kick out a big lump of protein every day. This is their time to rehab their reproductive tract. And finally, after summer solstice, day length is decreasing - that is also a signal to cease production. Light period will start getting longer in 5 days. After your birds completely recover from molt, you should start getting eggs.
Since they aren't laying now, it would be best if they aren't fed layer feed now. A starter/grower/all flock feed would be better for the enhanced amino acids and vitamins and they don't need the extra calcium now.

You should probably ask an administrator to move this thread to the 'chicken behaviors and egg laying' forum. The 'announcements' forum isn't really the place for this topic.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/chicken-behaviors-and-egglaying.18/

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I have 2 Brahma Hens that are molting? Is this normal for them? Going into winter.. and they also stop laying eggs few weeks ago. Just making sure this is normal..

Good morning.

It is normal for hens not to lay during molt. Very few will continue laying but that is far from average.

Brahma hens are dual purpose breed... the other poster covered nutrition and such already... it can help them recover easier.

 

[brittanys22]

Ahhh thank you I’m new to this so I was just making sure. They will be a year old in April & I have switched them to an all flock feed when I noticed they stopped laying! Thanks so much

 

[ChickenCanoe]

So this is their first autumn. That is not as common but not unheard of.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

They will be a year old in April

As stated... it is not usual to molt that early... but it does happen.

Do you wanna post some pics so we can see their condition?

Adding your general location to your profile can help folks make the best suggestions possible at a glance in the future.

I personally would not switch back to layer... but rather just provide oyster shell free choice on the side for them when returning to lay. You can research it between now and then and see how you feel about it.

 

[Jac Jac]

I have 2 Brahma Hens that are molting? Is this normal for them? Going into winter.. and they also stop laying eggs few weeks ago. Just making sure this is normal..

One word - Yup.

 

[brittanys22]

As stated... it is not usual to molt that early... but it does happen.

Do you wanna post some pics so we can see their condition?

Adding your general location to your profile can help folks make the best suggestions possible at a glance in the future.

I personally would not switch back to layer... but rather just provide oyster shell free choice on the side for them when returning to lay. You can research it between now and then and see how you feel about it.

I will add pictures of them Shortly, they aren’t bad at all just around the face some. They are acting normal. We live in NC weather is 62 today but has been colder! Will go take some pictures they like to hid out under tress since they are free range but will come to me

 

[brittanys22]

Her is my girl, she is t bad at all but it is noticeable.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

It isn't a hard molt but given her age, that's understandable. The dearth of eggs is likely due mostly to the time of year. Short days.