15 Month Old Hens Not Laying

[chickenman111]

I don't know I guess it could be. What signs can you look for that something like a skunk has been in there. Thank you

 

[Audio51]

Missing eggs is the most obvious sign. With some, they just take the eggs from under the hen and leave the hens alone if they can get enough to satisfy them. Sometimes if they come to visit and there are no eggs they will pull the egg ducts out of the sleeping hens. I have heard of people going in to collect eggs and the hen looked like it was just sleeping in the nest in a normal position, but when they tried to move it to collect eggs, it was clear it was dead. They will also sometimes just kill the hens in a more messy manner, usually ripping them open from the vent are. These are just things I have heard. I only lost one hen to what I THINK was a skunk. Her death was the messier type with her belly torn open and her head missing. I would examine the coop/run very carefully and look for signs of entry. Hopefully it's just a lull in the laying cycle, but I would investigate if I were you.

 

[enola]

Have you checked the distance between their pelvic bones? That is one way to tell if they are laying or not . . . .

 

[Audio51]

How would you know what to feel for? Wouldn't you need to have a basis for comparison?

 

[enola]

If there is only the width of one finger between the pelvic bones, she is not laying eggs.

Pictures of the hens so we can see their combs will aldo help.

 

[chickenman111]

Ok the pelvic bone is about 2 fingers width. I'll try to get pictures soon

 

[chickenman111]

Their combs are red.

 

[appps]

Quick question. You say from roosters plural mounting them. How many roosters do you have to your 17 hens?

They had obviously been laying for a fair while before they stopped?

Also to see if something is eating the eggs try putting one from your own supply in there and see if its still there in the next day.
Perhaps if they were lacking protien with your feed system or bored due to space or even after the calcium in the shells one of the hens has started eating their eggs.

 

[chickenman111]

I've got 2 roosters. there's quite a few feathers in their roosting room as well.

 

[enola]

Pelvic bones that wide and red combs means that they should be laying.