2 hens using nest box, sit for hours, sing egg song, but no eggs....?

[fishmanwill]

Hello, we have two hens a barred rock and an Easter egger that were born April 2014. They had been laying good since last fall into this summer. I noticed a while back that everyday I would notice one or both of them in a nest box sitting in the nest box and they will sit there for hours, then they would do the egg song and leave the coop. I started watching closer, because I noticed that the nest boxes they were using never had an egg in it. I would check to see what boxes they were using on my days off and keep an eye on them and listen for the egg song. When I heard it, I go check, it would be one of them in the nest box, singing, they get up and leave while I am watching and no egg. They seem to do this everyday, but don't lay. So I separated them into a small separate coop, 3 weeks ago and neither one has laid an egg, but they both use the nest box the same way they were in the main coop. What are they doing and why aren't they laying? Will they lay again? Neither one is molting, they are healthy, they eat 20% grower, and oyster shells free choice. Please help I need to figure what's going on and if they will lay again. Thanks.

 

[cavemanrich]

Is it possible that aliens landed in your back yard and are taking the eggs as specimens onto their SPACESHIP???

OK that is the Ice breaker,,,,, Hope it made you chuckle....

It may be that the weather is the factor. Is it HOT currently where you are at ??? During hot weather some of my girls slow down on the laying. Your choice of feeding grower and offering oyster shells free choice is just fine. Sometimes chickens forget to help themselves to the free choice oyster shells and therefore may be running low on calcium. Result may be reduced egg production. Layer feed supplies the calcium needed for OPTIMUM egg production. It kind of forces chickens to produce eggs in a way. It is good to offer oyster shells free choice even with layer feed. Here is something you may want to try... Add some of the oyster shells to your feed. Just some, not a lot. Mix it up. Then see if there is a lot of the oyster shells left at the bottom after all the feed is consumed. Do not worry that your chickens will overdose on those shells. They will leave behind when they think they had enough. See if the laying resumes. KEEP US POSTED ON YOUR PROGRESS AND RESULTS. WISHING YOU BEST.