2 hens not laying

[carl wagoner]

I have one enormous Rhode Island who's the queen of the flock. She never lays. Another, A Welsomer who was a pullet which hadnt layed when I acquired her. It's been 4 months since then. Still no eggs. Should I give up hope on her?

 

[Astrolover13]

My Rhode Island Res are going through a stage like this, too. If she's molting, this could be why. They molt for about 3-5 months, depending on whether it;s a hard or soft molt. And sometimes, they just need a break. The only other thing that I can think of is that they might have a disease or parasite infestation. Do they seem sick and have you seen any bugs on them/in their coops or nesting areas?

 

[carl wagoner]

no. they both seem healthy happy and fine just ones stopped laying and the other never has. there seems to be no molting at least as i can tell and no bugs

 

[Astrolover13]

Hmm.. Well, I don't know if you live on a farm or if they are kept in a coop all day or what but they need at least 14 hours of daylight in order to sustain egg production. It also could be if you are giving them the wrong food. Feed them layer with 16-18% protein. Also, don't give them table scraps, whole grains, or scratch feeds, (these can offset a balanced diet.) Also, I don;t know how old the bigger hen is, but hens lay 50-60 eggs per laying cycle for two laying cycle pretty efficiently with molting in between. Once they get older, they will lay less often and provide less. Another thing could be stress. If you just moved, if there's predators, a big change in enviornment, or anything along those lines. Some other things could be predators/snakes eating the eggs, the chickens eating the eggs themselves, if the eggs keep breaking, or if they are hiding the eggs.

 

[carl wagoner]

Well thanks for the effort, but none of that really fits, particularly regarding the RI. we're still getting about 16 hrs sunlight. No predators. No stress and they roam about the yard at least 12 hrs/day. Hmmmm indeed. The welsomer, as I said, never has layed. Gotta be around 5 months

 

[mcgillagorilla]

HI
I just noticed this and I am sort of new to BYC
I had the same problem recently....my BLRW just stopped laying for no reason. No moult - not sick - had no idea what the problem was. She started laying again about two weeks ago...from what a few seasoned chicken people told me - sometimes they just take a break. Hope yours has worked it out.

 

[Astrolover13]

Well I don't really know what else it would be. Sorry I couldn't be of more help. :/

 

[crchickens]

Mine are not laying like normal, and it HAS to be because of the 105 degree heat. We had one cooler week, only 95 degrees, and they laid. Is it really hot there?

 

[Den in Penn]

If they roam the yard the may be hiding the eggs. Heat can stress them to the point of stopping lay.