Previous layers new to me are not laying!

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Jendin13 said:
Chicken canoe-
Good point! This is my first year raising chickens so I haven't gone through that yet. How long does it last? (Molting)
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As said, it can range from 2-4 months. Some less, some more. Fast molters, those that lose lots of their feathers at once, recover more quickly but need more protein to do so. As the hens age, each year their post molt winter break will be longer and longer. But if they're good quality birds, don't give up on them. Come longer days, they'll lay again.

I have a friend that got tired of waiting for her birds to start laying last winter. She decided to give them away late last February and start with new chicks. I tried to get her to wait but she had her mind set. Her birds started laying a week after she gave them away and have been laying like gangbusters all spring and summer. So, she fed the malingerers all winter with no eggs and the chicks all spring and summer and just started getting eggs now.
The moral of the story is, if one doesn't want to feed non-layers plan ahead and replace the birds every couple years and get the chicks 5 months before disposing of the older layers.
 
I didn't realize it lasted that long. I love these beautiful girls so I am fine waiting it out. I appreciate the head's up. Like I said before, I do have 5 girls that are 5 months old so hopefully they will start laying soon. I really appreciate everyone's advice!!
 
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