Laying hens that have completed a 40 week laying period may be put through a molt (loss of feathers and cessation of lay) and then begin a second laying period. Many methods used to induce this temporary stoppage of lay involve dramatic if not complete feed withdrawal. This raises serious welfare concerns. Alternative methods of inducing a molt have been developed. In this study several nonfeed withdrawal methods were compared with conventional programs (10 day withdrawal). The nonfeed withdrawal methods involved changing the diets to 94% corn, 94% wheat midlings, 71% wheat midlings:23% corn, 47% wheat midlings:47% corn, 95% corn gluten, and 94% distillers dried grains. The feed withdrawal programs achieved complete cessation of lay within a few days. With the exception of the distillers dried grains, all of the nonfeed withdrawal treatments reduced egg production to less than 6% during the program. Once laying was re-induced by the provision of a high quality laying diet there were no differences among treatments on egg production or quality. The results indicate that several nonfeed withdrawal programs are effective in inducing a molt and that subsequent production is unaffected.