[lightyears]

Had the girls for 3 weeks now, just this weekend i noticed a reduction in egg production, but at the same time the birds have started to mault and i can lots of new growth coming through, i cant remember for the best of me if this effects egg laying, im sure it does. They are still eating and drinking like there i no tomorrow and are in very good spirit.

[Roughlee Handled]

What age are they?
A chicken will not moult till they are a year old.

Yes Moulting affects egg production as it takes allot of energy to grow feathers.

[Aunt Sally]

They do moult partially when they are quite young to get their adult feathers.  Not sure what age but about 14 weeks-ish at a guess.

[Aunt Sally]

This is an australian site so their seasons are opposite to ours:

http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/cps/rde/dpi/hs.xsl/27_2709_ENA_HTML.htm


Extract:

The chick goes through one complete and three partial moults during its growth to point of lay. Generally complete moulting occurs from 1-6 weeks of age and partial moulting at 7-9 weeks, 12-16 weeks and 20-22 weeks, and during this latter moult the stiff tail feathers are grown.

[nzdunn]

yes aunt sally, my two new girls are 13wks and they are having a little moult.   Nickyx

[lightyears]

they are almost a year old. so i imagine it is right, they arnt molting completely yet, they just look a bit ruff were the feathers are going.