Objectives The effects of mandatory molting by starvation on the egg laying rate in laying hens was studied to provide technical support for farmers of laying hens to implement mandatory molting by starvation in laying hens. Methods A batch of 6 000 laying hens aged 456 days was used as the experimental group Ⅰ, and 500 hens as the control group for experimental group Ⅰ. The other batch of 6 000 laying hens aged 296 days with a significant decrease in egg laying rate for unknown reasons was used as the experimental group Ⅱ, and 500 hens as the control group for experimental group Ⅱ. The experiment of mandatory molting by starvation was conducted. changes in body weight of experimental chickens during mandatory molting were measured by weighing the body weight. The daily quantity of egg laying was recorded to analyze the changes in egg laying rate. Results The laying hens stopped laying eggs on the 7th day of feeding cessation. The weight gain rate of experimental group Ⅰ and Ⅱ was -29.12% and -30.21% on the 15th day, which met the standard requirements for resuming feeding. The laying hens began to lay eggs on the 7th day after resuming feeding. The egg laying rate increased rapidly on the 13th day. The egg laying rate reached over 50.00% on the 19th day. The egg laying rate in the experimental group Ⅰ reached its peak on the 47th day, with 87.88%. The egg laying rate in the experimental group Ⅱ reached its peak on the 39th day, with 89.84%. The peak of egg laying rate lasted for more than 150 days. Conclusions The mandatory molting by starvation can effectively increase the egg laying rate in laying hens, prolong the period of laying egg in laying hens, and improve the economic benefits of farming laying hens, especially for laying hens whose egg production rate significantly decreases for unknown reasons. The effect is better especially for laying hens with significant decrease in egg laying rate for unknown reasons.