Molting or something else?

[CrazyClayLady]

Hello!

I’ve had chickens almost 2 years but this is my first year I’ve dealt with molting.

A bit about my flock:
8 hens are 1yr 11m (golden comets & Easter eggers)
4hens 1yr 1m (Rhode Island reds, buff Orpington & copper maran)

Egg production started to decrease in October and then only one a day if we are lucky from November 5th on. The oldest were definitely molting but the younger ones never really lost feathers. Majority of my flock all appear to have their feathers back so I’m just not sure if it’s molting, shorter days or if there’s something else going on that I’m over looking.

I switched to a high protein feed when they were actively molting but have now switched back to their regular layer feed last week.

 

[Rose the Legbar]

Photos of your birds? It sounds like they stopped in the winter due to the less light and because of them being a bit older.

 

[CrazyClayLady]

Not the best pictures but maybe better than nothing. I thought it might just be a winter break but I was hoping the younger girls would keep laying while the older ones went through their molt

 

[Rose the Legbar]

Not the best pictures but maybe better than nothing. I thought it might just be a winter break but I was hoping the younger girls would keep laying while the older ones went through their molt

It looks like some are starting to molt but others could have just quit due to the shorter and colder days.