I copied and pasted this from a newsletter I put out.
~~Once pullets commence laying, they go like gangbusters through fall, winter, spring and summer. Then, normally the second autumn and every one thereafter they will molt, which ranges from 1 to 4 months depending on weather they do a hard or soft molt. A hard molt will be obvious, a soft molt not so much. During molt they lay very few eggs, if any at all. It takes a lot of protein and energy to grow a new winter down coat. So, aside from the super laying one sees the first year or two of laying, production drops year after year.
~~Light is the number one factor for healthy birds to continue laying. Adding a light on a timer bright enough to read a newspaper by at roost height will do the trick. When I do so, I have it come on at 4 AM or on at dusk and stay on for 4 hours. It's better to gradually increase the time. Healthy chickens also quit laying when they molt. During the molt their reproductive tract gets a much needed rest and overhaul. That's normally the second autumn and every year thereafter. It often seems like they're laying every day and just stop. Usually you'll see feathers everywhere and scruffy chickens but they can do a less noticeable soft molt. At any rate they don't start laying again until the new winter coat is completely grown. That can take anywhere from a month or the break could be all winter. If they're molting, adding light doesn't help. Increasing the protein in the diet helps them grow new feathers. That's usually done by switching from layer feed to grower. The other option is to just let them take a break. When hatched, a chick already has all the eggs it will ever lay in its life. The choice is whether you want all the eggs the first few years or let them take a break and lay for 10 years or more. Because chickens die from so many things (predators, disease, etc.) a lot of people choose the former and start over again when laying slows considerably. I choose the latter because their bodies really do need a break from constant laying.
~~Non laying birds should have a grower feed(low calcium). Birds in production need a layer feed. If you have a mixed flock(laying and non-laying) feed a grower and provide oyster shell in a separate container for the layers to eat as the feel the need. Non laying birds can be harmed consuming 4% calcium layer feed.
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