Somewhat new to the world of layers

[labuck]

Help! Our chickens are about a year old and are currently going through their second mold in the past six months. They are Rhode Island Reds and all three were great layers after they were 6 months old, then they molted for 2 months - got a random egg here and there - then they layed consistenly for about 2 months; now they appear to be molting AGAIN for the past 2 months. We purchase our food from a reputable feed store, make sure there is always clean water, use wood shavings as bedding which is cleaned out every week, and allow them to run around our property which has lots of green grass. Is this normal?? I would really like eggs on a somewhat consistent basis.......any ideas??

 

[CityClucks]

I don't know - but I am going to ask a moderator to move this post out of the New Member thread to the Managing Your Flock forum - I hope you'll get more responses to your question there.

Meanwhile -

from Oklahoma!

 

[michickenwrangler]

From Michigan

 

[4-H chicken mom]

That is unusual for yr old birds to be on their second molt. Chickens usually molt get thrown into a molt because of light changes or sudden feed proteins level changed. Are you sure you are buying the same kind and protein level each time? They should have been on a 16% layer feed and some grit added. Have you check for mites/lice? That can stop egg production. If they are molting, you can up their protein level. It will help get the feather growing back in quicker. That is all I can think of at the moment.