2 year old hens won't lay... any ideas?

[frgntd]

I have 5 "rare breeds" including Golden Cuckoo Marans, Blue Splash Marans, Barnvelder, Cream Legbar, and Jubilee Orpington. They all layed last year until fall when they molted, recovered their feathers normally, and layed very sporadically in late winter with added light in the coop. For the last several months only one (Barnvelder) has been laying a few each week. On the recommendation of the hatchery, I changed to a high protein feed three weeks ago with no change so far. There is no evidence they are eating the eggs, no predators have been getting in the coop (just a few field mice), no signs of illness. I've run out of ideas! Do you have experience with these breeds?

 

[Elie And Her Flock]

I would recommend supplying them with oyster shells for calcium, or splash a calcium supplement in their water (if you aren't already doing that). A possibility is that they could be laying in places other than the nesting boxes. Another possibility is that it isn't sunny enough yet. How's the weather?

 

[BGcoop]

No experience with those breeds, but mine are doing the same thing, and I just found out I have an aunt experiencing a similar lack of eggs. I have tried several different things as well. Lately I have taken to threatening them with the crock pot each morning and evening, but that hasn’t been working either.

 

[frgntd]

No experience with those breeds, but mine are doing the same thing, and I just found out I have an aunt experiencing a similar lack of eggs. I have tried several different things as well. Lately I have taken to threatening them with the crock pot each morning and evening, but that hasn’t been working either.

Hmmm, I have threatened to rename them Stew, Fricassee, etc. I should try the crock pot!

 

[frgntd]

I would recommend supplying them with oyster shells for calcium, or splash a calcium supplement in their water (if you aren't already doing that). A possibility is that they could be laying in places other than the nesting boxes. Another possibility is that it isn't sunny enough yet. How's the weather?

They have oyster shell available, but maybe I need to replace it. I will try that.