My hens have slowed way down on eggs the last week or two, right as I’m noticing feather loss. Is it normal for laying to pause completely during a molt, and about how long before they pick back up?
Yep, that’s completely normal, Ron! Molting takes a lot of protein and energy that would otherwise go into egg production, so most hens slow way down or stop laying entirely while they’re growing new feathers. It’s their body prioritizing correctly — feathers matter for insulation and health.
Typically you’ll see laying pause for anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks depending on the hen and how hard the molt hits her, then it ramps back up gradually as new feathers finish coming in. A few things that help them bounce back faster:
- Bump protein up during the molt if you can (game bird feed in the high 20s%, or even a temporary higher-protein layer feed) — feathers are almost pure protein.
- Make sure calcium is still available for when they resume laying.
- Keep stress low (stable temps, no overcrowding, minimal handling) since molting hens are already taxed.
If it’s been going on much longer than 6-8 weeks with no sign of new feather growth or return to laying, or if she looks unwell otherwise, that’d be worth a vet check to rule out something else going on. Otherwise, just give her time — she’ll come back around!