My hen is a molting hormonal nightmare

[BethyLeigh]

My favorite hen, a Buff Orpington named 'Ms Marigold' went broody in late July. I gave her a set of day old (tractor supply) chicks to adopt August 21st and she's been a great mother - but of course very defensive of her babies. I noticed a couple weeks ago that she looked like she was molting too.

Between molting and mothering she's sort of a wreck - when will she be back to her sweet self?

When will she start laying again? She's only 16-17 months old so this is her first moltView attachment 1544528

 

[rosemarythyme]

With the babies, molting, and winter on the horizon... possibly you won't see eggs from her again until early spring.

 

[red horse ranch]

I've found that most of my hens will want to wean their chicks when they are around 4 weeks old. This will vary with different hens, sometimes as early as 3 weeks and sometimes much much later. But 4 to 5 weeks is most common and they will want to start laying again around that time. If she happens to be molting at the same time in can take several more weeks before the eggs show up. @rosemarythyme is correct that it could possibly be the following spring..