No eggs. Tried all I know ..any help would be great

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Mastroni

Mastroni

Chirping
5 Years
May 27, 2014
20
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72
I have 15 birds ( Barred rock and Americaunas). The girls layed eggs through the winter last year with no problem . This year was the first time I have seen them molt. The whole flock molted and they look wonderful and fluffy.As soon as they started molting they stopped laying eggs. This I understood.They are now done molting, and only the one Sexlinc chicken and one young Americauna is laying eggs. I have replaced all the bedding in the entire coop.I have put fresh herbs in the coop to entice them to lay there.I am leaving about 5 eggs in two different spots to entice laying.They eat layers pellets daily. I occasionally offer oyster shells and egg shells ( from the store ) , and they kinda peck at them. There are always some left, so I don't think it is a calcium issue.?? I have only had chickens for two years so still kinda new . Any good info would be great. thank you!
 
The next thing i was going to try was to keep them in there pen for 2 days or so. I have looked all over our property and have not found any eggs laid in random places.
 
What season are you in right now?

I am just wondering because hens need 14 hours of daylight in order to produce eggs. If you are approaching Winter and the days are shortening that could well be your problem.

I am not a huge fan of adding supplemental lighting myself, preferring to let nature take it's course, but if you add in some extra light in the mornings and in the evenings that might get them laying again.

- Krista
 
We are starting winter here. Last year they laid eggs through the winter though?? will they flip flop like that??
 
Absolutely they do.

In the first year, the initial rush of egg-laying hormones as they came into maturity would have pushed them into laying. My pullets started their first season of egg-laying in Winter!

After that, most hens will cease laying during Winter without the addition of supplemental lighting. I say most because there is always the exception to the rule, but my suspicions are that the shortening days are causing your problem.

- Krista
 
Well that would be nice. A simple answer. I just keep worrying over it because i think i am missing something
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, but that is just how I am. ill try not to worry so much then. Thank you very much
big_smile.png
 
No problems
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Don't worry, I am THE biggest Mother Hen too! I worry about my girls all the time, but quite often it is the little things that upset the applecart, not the worst as we often imagine.

I'm sure they will be fine - you sound like you're doing everything right.

- Krista
 
I'd say it's the light.....Older layers need 14-16 hours of light to lay regularly thru winter.

Last winter I used a 40 watt incandescent light(this year I am using a CFL) that comes on early in the morning to provide 14-15 hours of light and they go to roost with the natural sundown.

Last year I started the lighting increase a bit late(mid October), the light should be increased slowly, and the pullets didn't start laying until late December. Here's a pretty good article on supplemental lighting. Some folks think that using lighting shortens the years a hen will lay, I don't agree with that theory but I also plan to cull my older hens for soup at about 3 years old.
 

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