Hens that stop laying eggs

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325512

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I have 2 generations of hens: the first are 2 years old and number 17; the second generation are 1 year old and number 22.

Last Fall the 17 started molting and, of course, stopped laying. I am still collecting 22 eggs each day.

I have cleaned their boxes and sprinkled with Seven. I have de-wormed them. They might have just laid all that they will lay in their life time. However, I am still looking for a cause to their stalled egg laying.

The only thing I can see that I find unusual is that some of them have bald heads. Their feathers don't go all the way up to their crowns. Is there a skin condition or pest that will stop their egg laying?
 
RickSr said:
I have 2 generations of hens: the first are 2 years old and number 17; the second generation are 1 year old and number 22.

Last Fall the 17 started molting and, of course, stopped laying. I am still collecting 22 eggs each day.

I have cleaned their boxes and sprinkled with Seven. I have de-wormed them. They might have just laid all that they will lay in their life time. However, I am still looking for a cause to their stalled egg laying.

The only thing I can see that I find unusual is that some of them have bald heads. Their feathers don't go all the way up to their crowns. Is there a skin condition or pest that will stop their egg laying?
Click to expand...

if you have a roo he can cause that by pulling them out, if no roo then they can still get plucked by flock mates
 
I don't have any roosters. If bald heads are relatively normal, then I am at a loss for my lack of eggs!

Could it be probable that my 2 year olds are done laying?
 
Well they aren't entirely normal but it does happen what breeds do you have? what do you feed them? and your 2 year olds shouldn't be done laying yet but i have an idea as to what it could be if you told me the breeds.
 
My 2 yr olds are not "pure bred". I bought them from Tractor Supply: 9 were marked "Reds" and the others were marked "Whites". I have been feeding them Dumor brand Layer Crumbles. Each morning, I give them some cracked corn. When they started laying weak shells, I added some oyster shell. Over winter and Spring, I also added some cat food to boost their protein as they recovered from their molt.

Please tell me what you know!
 
well if they red production hybrids then they could be done laying but if they are simply red dual purpose breeds then they may still be shut down from their molt, are they more sleek or bigger built.
 
They were definitely sold as production pullets. I don't know how to answer the sleek/big question. My one yr. olds include some Bantams, and I don't see a difference in the build or frame.
 
Ah, I see! They are definitely big. I don't have any hens that look sleek.
 
They may well need more protein.
Layer feed is minimal in protein(~16%), the cracked corn is diluting that protein - maybe significantly depending on how much in relation to layer feed.

Either free feed a higher protein feed or stop with the cracked corn.
Oyster shell should be free fed in a separate container.

What wormer did you use and when....all birds or just the olders?
Did you enact a withdrawal period?
 

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