1 of 4 Laying?!? - Ready to get rid of them!

[tjcib]

I guess this is a "venting" post (pun intended maybe...). I am ready to kick these girls to the curb. 1 egg per day is not worth it.

I have 4 Black Australorp hens that are over a year old. Last summer/fall when I had 6, I was getting 5 or 6 eggs per day. Found one hen dead in the coop for no apparent reason 8+months ago. We put down another one about 3 months ago because of a prolapsed vent that wasn't healing.

Why the heck am I only getting 1 egg per day now? Every once an a while I'll get get two. Once every two or so weeks I'll get 3 in a day. This has been going on for two months now.

They have a constant supply of fresh water and layer feed. When we let them free range in our 1/3 acre back yard, they only get to eat buggy things because there is no green grass or weeds, it is all wooded and shady. Their run is 32 sq.ft. for just the 4 of them.

They don't have a secret stash. I literally did a "search and rescue" pattern on the yard and picked up everything looking. Nothing there. And the laying pattern doesn't change if we leave them in their run for a week straight.

 

[featheredplanets]

We do have to remember that our hens aren’t machines, we can’t be upset or mad at them because they’re not producing as many eggs. There are quite a few reasons why they’d stop producing as much.

Stress is usually the number one factor. This can be caused by anything. Predators. Bully chickens. Improper nutrients. Lack of space/overcrowding. Boredom. (32sqft is too small for a run, the recommended/bare minimum should be 10sqft per chicken, in the run.)

Age. The production of eggs naturally decreases with age.

Daylight exposure. A hen’s laying cycle is controlled by hormones, which are controlled by daylight, they need at least 12 hours a day, I believe.

Nutritional deficiencies. Feed for all chickens should be aiming for at least 18% protein. Calcium should be free choice. Your layer feed should contain everything they need but check the date and protein, provide free choice oyster shell and grit.

Disease. (illness causes stress physically)

Moulting.

Broodiness.

I may not have listed everything, but I don’t think it’s right to be upset with your ladies, nothing’s their fault at the end of the day.

 

[tjcib]

Thanks for the thoughts.

Unfortunately, 32 sqft is the largest run our municipality allows. It's dumb...

They were doing fine last summer with SIX in there, so I can't imagine size is an issue. I'll try some other stuff... We do have a bully =/

 

[mixedbreeds]

You might try sprouting some black oil sunflower seeds and wheat soak over night and put into trays a inch deep water a couple times a day for 4 or 5 days See if that helps, I do it in the winter and it makes a big difference in production. Just a thought as you said you have no greens for them.

 

[SueT]

Is there any way something is stealing the eggs, or, the hens are eating them?

 

[featherhead007]

Is there any way something is stealing the eggs, or, the hens are eating them?

Possibly? I have golf balls in the nest boxes.. makes the hens compete to lay i guess.
It does work!

 

[mixedbreeds]

Also Australorp are pretty good layers but they do bounce around on production. If you want laying machines and brown eggs I would go with golden sexlinks that’s the name for them where I get them at Dunlap hatchery in Idaho I think golden comets and ISA Browns are other names, you should get an egg a day from them starting about 4 months old through 18 months old have another 6 ready to go at 18 months and put the old ones in the stew pot. Just an option

 

[tjcib]

Thanks guys. Of course, the day I post this, they all lay... serves me right...

I do golf balls in the nest too, which is weird to have white balls for brown layers, but whatever...LOL. It did work when they first started laying in the coop.

I considered a black rat snake I found. Could be stealing them, but at that rate he is eating 2-3 a day, and I know snakes don't eat that much (snake owner). Also, there is only one way for him to get in, and the ladies probably wouldn't allow it since it's through the run. They've chased him away in the past from the yard.

Brown eggs are not necessary. Was considering leghorns for the next batch. My son chose Australorp because this was his birthday project when he turned 8.

 

[tjcib]

You might try sprouting some black oil sunflower seeds and wheat soak over night and put into trays a inch deep water a couple times a day for 4 or 5 days See if that helps, I do it in the winter and it makes a big difference in production. Just a thought as you said you have no greens for them.

Thanks for the tip! I'll give it a whirl!