Started laying--now they stopped(long story)

[steadfree]

the buffs started laying for only for a few weeks...then we started having attacks. first it was an owl...there went the leader. then we picked up some 11wo pullets...but they were attacked by raccoons. so we still had the 2 buffs(20wks) that were laying, only 1 welsh that was laying and 1 new easter egger(young) were the survivors. Until stupid feral cats from across the street were tired of my dog food in the garage. so they got under the pen fence and entered the coop. 2 buffs scattered and found in the morning with feathers missing..the old lady was on top of coop(welsh) and little houdini was in a tree.
so I think we started another Molt in the last 2 months. the buffs had good wattles and good comb with good red color....the old welsh 1.5yr may be done and the easter egger doesn't look ready.
now they have been free range--so can't keep track. but worried that they werent getting the right protein ratio..but they have experience laying in the coop...havent had eggs in the yard.
so need more advice again!!! Sorry!

[mekasmom]

Upset can cause them to stop laying. If you just move them for one reason or another, they will stop laying. So, predators and fear can slow them down.
You can feed them cat food for more protein. And of course you know about laying mash and shell.
Chickens are beautiful like flowers. But they are also touchy at times. One summer we had the coop flood, so I had to move them twice. Both times they stopped laying for 2-3 wks. Then everyone decided that they needed to brood. Then we had an outbreak of MG which killed about 100 chickens. It was just a mess that year. My DH kept telling me it would just be cheaper to buy the silly eggs.