New Chicken Owner

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Bobn777

Bobn777

Hatching
May 27, 2015
6
0
7
Fines Creek, NC
Hi Folks,
I recently moved to a great old farm house and coincidentally a friend was forced to give up his chickens due to municipal ordinance. We built a new 4'x8'x6' coop and then moved the chickens over.

Before the move the three hens were laying 1 egg a day each. Since the move, at first I was getting a single egg a day, now I might get a single egg once every 2-3 days. Also they are not eating as much.

At first I thought they needed time to adjust to the move, not sure anymore.

Since we have moved them the only thing that has changed was, we built nesting boxes off the ground, inside the coop. We did this due a black snake that came to visit and most likely ate at least one egg.

I would be very appreciative for any feedback, since I am new to the chicken game.
Thanks,
 
Welcome to BYC, Bobn777. :)

Are any of them starting to lose feathers? If so they could be going into a molt. Molting usually causes birds not to lay as much, if at all, because it takes so much energy to grow new feathers. Although I would think that they would eat more, not less, during a molt.

Is there anywhere they could be laying eggs where you wouldn't see them? Recently I had some birds laying eggs under my coop, so that might be it.

You may also want to search or start a thread in this section to get more information:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/18/chicken-behaviors-and-egglaying
or check this thread out:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/423023/why-arent-my-chickens-laying-here-are-your-answers


Hope that helps.
 
Last edited:
Hello there and welcome to BYC!

Moving can be stressful on hens. Sometimes it can take weeks if not a couple of months to resettle themselves into their new home. If the nest box situation is different, they may be laying their eggs elsewhere or something is still eating the eggs. If the chickens saw this snake, this may be enough for them to stop laying in the nest boxes.

And as Mr MKK Farms has mentioned, if they are perhaps molting from the stress of the move, they will stop laying. Possibly even eating the eggs themselves.

Health issues can stop them from laying as well, especially worms.

You might try locking them up in the coop in the mornings to see who is laying what.

Definitely check out the thread on Why My Chickens Are Not Laying that Mr MKK left for you.

Good luck and welcome to our flock!
 
Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

You've received great advice from @Mr MKK FARMS and @TwoCrows

Chickens do not like change. So once they get settled in, they should return to how they were. Make sure they are safe and secure. Good luck!
 

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