No eggs for 2 weeks! Help!

[mmch618]

My girls are 1 1/2 years old and recently all three of them have stopped laying eggs all together. Nothing has changed in their diet (they still eat a layer feed and get oyster shell and chicken grit) and also get scratch corn as a treat. They are free range. Iv looked all over the yard for a hidden nest and have found none. One of them is loosing feathers, so maybe molting? Help I dont know what to do!

 

[sourland]

They are right at the age to molt and take a break from egg laying. Let them recover and they will once again lay eggs.

 

[annabelle12]

Yep, they need the energy they would be using to make eggs to make feathers. However, even after molt, you can expect egg production to drop off as days shorten in the winter. It's the hens natural cycle.

 

[mmch618]

Can I give them anything to suppliment and help them molt??

 

[mmch618]

Also will the be colder in the winter with not as many feathers? How can I help them?

 

[annabelle12]

Make sure they have high quality feed, and you can feed a bit of high protein treat, like mealworms or black oil sunflower seed. They are growing their winter coat and will be fine! Some of my hens were molting around their necks in the depths of winter last year, and they were fine as well.