2 year old birds laying very few eggs

[Lyranonamous]

I might have found the answer to my eggless situation. I asked at the feed store today and was told corn isn't great for chickens-that they will develop a fat layer instead of producing eggs. This summer they were given a lot of corn on the cob for treats. And when it got cold I started giving a little cracked corn in their feed.

Does anyone know if this sounds like the reason I'm not getting any eggs ?

 

[Beekissed]

I might have found the answer to my eggless situation. I asked at the feed store today and was told corn isn't great for chickens-that they will develop a fat layer instead of producing eggs. This summer they were given a lot of corn on the cob for treats. And when it got cold I started giving a little cracked corn in their feed.

Does anyone know if this sounds like the reason I'm not getting any eggs ?

Nope...most chicken feed is primarily corn based, so corn is on the menu whether you add it or not. They don't need the extra cracked corn, though, as it will just keep them from eating their regular ration of balanced feed.

There can be many, many reasons you are not getting eggs right now...here's a thread that can help you: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/423023/why-arent-my-chickens-laying-here-are-your-answers

Adding to the list on the front page of that thread, another thing happens more in the fall and winter that most people don't figure on....rats can steal eggs then too. It's when they are most likely to do so as their normal feed sources start to diminish with the cold weather. Mostly nocturnal, they will indeed scope out the coop in the day to get chicken feed and also eggs.

This little common brown rat can be found on farms all over the world and, unless they are in overgrowth, you may never ever see one...they are just that stealthy.

 

[nmflygirl]

This sounds like a very similar situation to what I'm experiencing. My 6 birds are all about 1.5 to 2.5 years old now and they stopped egg production completely in September/October I think.

With everything I'm reading from this forum I'm not worried about it, but will keep an eye on them starting mid Jan to see if anything starts changing.

I do see some evidence of mice around my coop, and the wild rabbits are all over the feed (working on fixing that) but I don't think the eggs are being stolen.

 

[Beekissed]

Mine all stopped at that same time, some molting, some recovering, some not at POL yet. Longest dry spell I've ever had in 40 yrs of keeping chickens. They finally started up again a few weeks ago, but only half the flock are laying. Tagged those who are for future reference, as I like to keep track of layers who lay well in the winter months.