2 year old hens stopped laying

[Ricognyze]

I have 4 hens and 3 of the 4 have stopped laying. One of them I know is molting, but I’m not sure what up with the other two. They haven’t laid an egg 3-4 weeks. Any ideas why? Thank you!

 

[CatInTheHenHouse]

My understanding is it’s normal for chickens to take a break from laying in the winter. Their lay cycle is affected by day length.

 

[Ricognyze]

Hmm. This had been happening even in late summer but especially now. Hopefully it’s as simple as that!

 

[rosemarythyme]

If they're all 2 years old then they're due for a molt, whether or not they noticeably do so.

If they stopped laying in late summer it's because it's the decreasing daylight hours that triggers molt and a stoppage/slowdown in laying in fall, not necessarily the daylight hours falling below some magic threshold.

 

[Mrs. K]

There are two kinds of molt. Some chickens just drop nearly every feather off their body. They look like they have come home late after a very hard party. They really look like they might be dying. They tend to grow their feathers back quickly too.

Other hens, just gradually loose a feather here, there, for weeks on end. They may gradually get a baldish spot on them here or there, but it is slowly to loose and slowly to grow back.

Both tend to happen in the fall going into winter which seems like a strange time, but it is what it is, and they either drastically slow as in stop laying or they slow as in an occasional egg.

Come late January for me, to early February - mine will start in again and by March they are laying.

It is so aggravating to have a pen of chickens, and buy eggs. I have so been there. Now I try and freeze eggs, or water glass eggs in times of plenty. I use those for cooking and baking, or scrambled eggs, eking out my few fresh eggs. Many people add young hens each year, so as to get a few more fresh eggs through the dark days of winter. But even they don't tend to lay everyday for us northern flocks without added light.

Mrs K