Dun, most of my layers are in their first year. I have another batch coming up that will start to lay in August. I cull, too, when they start falling off. Unless it is a chicken I have gotten attached to, and I have three of those from my original flock that are about 6 years old. They hardly ever lay, but one of them had a broken leg which we got through and I always put her in with new chicks. They seem to like her. I call her Mama. Silly, yes, but she loves me! :heart:
I read, too that the molt is supposed to start when the days get shorter and in the past, that has been the case. I think that the heat plays a big part here, though. And it is already as hot here now as it is in August. It is more heat stress than molt, probably, and I suppose that protein wouldn't helo that situation. I am doing all I can. I have well ventilated pens, and I am a stickler about fresh water. It is just my personal flock, but we, and some other folks around here, do like the big brown eggs.
Could it make it worse that they are black chickens? I know that it doesn't help that they are heavy breeds, but even my banties fall off this time of the year.