When will they restart to lay?

[PirateFarmer]

I've got 2 Australorps and a Rhodie that are about 3 years old, that were laying fine until the triple-digit heat hit. The eggs slowed down until zip for about a week...then 1 egg two days ago. It started cooling down about 1 1/2 weeks ago. Any idea as to when they'll get back on it? I've heard either after they molt or "anytime, now".

 

[Den in Penn]

What you heard is right. With three year olds one never knows how long they will take.

 

[PirateFarmer]

I'm getting 1 egg every 3 days, total, between the 3 birds. The guy I bought these off of this spring, says he thinks they're only 2 years old (they were his brother's birds he got left with).
Thank you for the honest answer...it's a bit frustrating not having a more definitive answer, but that's sometimes the way of it, ayuh?

 

[PirateFarmer]

Two of them have started back to regular laying, now. Strange, but the heavy smoke from all the forest fires doesn't seem to bother them much...even the two young roosters still crow at dawn, even though the smoke is so thick you can't see across the river, and not any real daylight until 7 or so.
Glad to get the eggs, again.

 

[Den in Penn]

Good to hear they have settled in.

 

[PirateFarmer]

They all shut down in early November...8 eggs total in 3 months...now the sunlight's up to 9 hours & I've changed from a pelleted feed to COB mixed w/ pea screenings (includes lentils, wheat, etc.) & 6 (out of 31) have started back at it...including 3 of the pullets!