Decreasing day-length is the normal trigger for molting. Therefore, lighting programs for egg production flocks should provide either constant or increasing day-length. Stresses caused by temporary feed or water shortage, disease, cold temperatures, or sudden changes in the lighting program can cause a partial or premature molt. Force Molting Force molting is a method of extending the productive life of a laying hen. It forces her to take a vacation and come back ready to go.
Force molting causes production to stop and body weight to be reduced.
Properly molted hens can be returned to good levels of production in seven to eight weeks. Molted hens will seldom reach the high levels of production received from pullets, but will peak five to eight percent below the original level. The most common approach is to force molt once after the hens have been laying about 14 months. They can be molted at this time and sold after 21 to 22 months from first lay. The force molting procedure has been used as many as three times in the life of a flock.