Abstract: One experiment was conducted to evaluate a number of molting techniques that were less stressful than conventional feed withdrawal. A total of 360 80-wk-old Hyline W36 hens were used. Experimental treatments were as follow: Treatment 1 (T1) used a conventional feed withdrawal (FW) period until about 30% body weight loss had occurred and considered as the control. Hens on T2 received a layer diet containing 35% delinted ground cotton seed. Hens on T3 fed a 92% corn middlings diet continuously for 28d. Hens on T4 were subjected to 3d feed withdrawal followed by T3. Hens on T5 fed a 92% wheat middlings diet continuously for 28d. Hens on T6 were subjected to 3-d feed withdrawal followed by T5. Hens on T7 fed a 50:50 mixture of corn and wheat middlings (92%) continuously for 28d. Hens on T8 were subjected to a 10-d feed withdrawal and then fed a low-protein diet (12% CP). Birds subjected to continuous feed withdrawal (T1) and ground cotton seed (T2) had body weight loss of 32.5 and 25% after 14d, respectively. Hens on other molting regimes did not have weight loss more than 10%. There was no significant difference in terms of postmolt performance between the birds fed the molt diets and those subjected to feed withdrawal. Shell thickness was comparable between the birds on T1 and other treatments at all post molt stages.