My Golden Comets have stopped laying

[MindiWynne]

I'm kinda new to chickens, and this is my first winter with them. One of my comets is molting and looks like a fuzzy featherless mess, so I was not surprised when she stopped laying. But the other one still has a big, floofy body of feathers and has also stopped laying. Everything I have read on the internet says this isn't a crisis but I can't help but be in a bit of a panic. I have not gotten any eggs from them in probably 3 weeks now. They are just over a year old.

 

[wamtazlady]

It's not unusual for chickens to stop laying when the days get short. Hate to tell you this but they are probably done laying until February.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Any that don't appear to be molting will start soon.
This is common in virtually any breed going into their second and subsequent autumns.
We're down to about 10 hours of daylight. They should start up again after the winter solstice so probably from January to March.

In the meantime, while none are laying, discontinue the layer feed and switch to a grower or all-flock feed. The extra protein will help regrow feathers and they don't need the extra calcium.

 

[MindiWynne]

Any that don't appear to be molting will start soon.
This is common in virtually any breed going into their second and subsequent autumns.
We're down to about 10 hours of daylight. They should start up again after the winter solstice so probably from January to March.

In the meantime, while none are laying, discontinue the layer feed and switch to a grower or all-flock feed. The extra protein will help regrow feathers and they don't need the extra calcium.

So I think what I have been feeding them is Layer Crumbles with Scratch mixed in, and I was told recently to give them some cat food as well. Will the grower feed be called that or is there a special name I need to look for?

 

[mountainbunny]

I'm feeding my molting hens Layena Feather Fixer formula. They are used to crumbles but I could only find it in pellets. They took to it just fine.

 

[junebuggena]

I feed Flock Raiser. It's got more protein than feather fixer and most starter/growers, and doesn't have the extra calcium that layer feed and feather fixer have. Birds that are molting aren't producing eggs, so extra calcium in the diet just builds up in the kidneys causing damage.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

So I think what I have been feeding them is Layer Crumbles with Scratch mixed in, and I was told recently to give them some cat food as well. Will the grower feed be called that or is there a special name I need to look for?

A couple of things. Each manufacturer has different names. Don't be too concerned about what a foodstuff is called but what the contained nutrients are. Guaranteed analysis is on the tag of every feed bag.
When your birds are actively laying, you're looking for a feed with about 16-17% protein and around 4% calcium. That describes most layer feeds. Feather fixer is slightly higher in protein and slightly lower in calcium (about 3%)
Any time they aren't actively building egg shells, they are fine on about
1% calcium. That's what is in every chicken feed except layer.
When molting, it helps to move up to about 18-20% protein. Feathers are about 93% protein.
If they aren't molting or building egg shells, 1% calcium and 15-18% protein is fine.
As far as the catfood goes, again, check the protein content. It can range from 15% to over 30%. If trying to boost protein, go for something in the 20s. Catfood contains nutrients for carnivorous felines, not omnivorous birds. Better would be a canned or fresh fish or any kind of meat, mealworms or crickets.

 

[mountainbunny]

Thanks for that info @ChickenCanoe. I'm new to molting and what to feed too....so this was helpful to me as well.

 

[MindiWynne]

Thank you! That is great advice and I am going to start reading the bags of food I buy. I do that for my dog and cats, don't know why that never crossed my mind for my chickens. Regardless, I would not have known the percentages so that was fabulously helpful.
They do get a lot of mealworms. And I give them lettuce and fresh veggies as snacks sometimes. Never thought of fish, but when we have had cookouts they have been gifted a hamburger or two...

 

[Grsmith]

my goldens stopped laying late November.. we would get one once in a while.. we have 6.. now that we are through spring and they are now 1 yr old we have 5 , a hawk got one, and we are only getting 2 eggs daily.. not 100% sure but think they are from he same 2 hens... they eat good food...plenty of clean water and a clean coop.. no idea why my fluffy butts are not producing.