17 hens only 1 egg a day?!?!? What's happening?

[chickchickgirls]

For the last two winters I have had only two hens(currently 2 1/2) who both layed pretty regularly even through the cold months. This last February, I added 15 new hens to the mix(about a year and a half right now), lost one of my original ladies and a new one, and hatched three chicks (hens)who are about 7 months old. We went from getting 10-12 eggs a day to suddenly down to 1-2 a day. A couple appear to be starting molting, but why would so many stop all at once. I know the weather change affects them, but 17 hens and only 1 egg a day? Should I be concerned or were my two original ladies just freaks of nature that never stopped laying?

 

[woodmort]

If they are the same age they will moult at nearly the same time--about a year after they first lay.

 

[chickchickgirls]

Thanks! Thinking back on it, my older girl didn't molt the first winter, but she did last year. The majority is probably getting ready to molt. I have noticed some of the leghorns feathers around. Guess I won't worry too much about them then.

 

[urbanfarmer101]

Oh, I feel your pain. I have 32 birds and get 2 eggs a day. This has been going on for weeks.