2 yr old hens not laying in Michigan

[fldiver97]

Welcome Nice to have you here!

 

[Pork Pie]

Welcome to BYC - you have some great advice links already so I'll just say hello!
All the best

Pork Pie

 

[Claires Poultry]

Hello and welcome to BYC!
We're so glad to have you here with us!
Thank you for joining our wonderful community of fellow poultry enthusiasts!

 

[aart]

Any reason why my girls would suddenly stop laying? I'm getting about 2 eggs a week!

Yup, 'tis molting season!
Did they turn 2 years old this spring....or....?

Welcome to BYC! @Tinamariebutterfly
Stop on by the Michigan Chat Thread here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/michigan-thread-all-are-welcome.697050/page-4451

 

[ValerieJ]

Hi! Welcome to BYC! Mine are molting too and I'm getting about 2 eggs per day.

 

[Tinamariebutterfly]

Yup, 'tis molting season!
Did they turn 2 years old this spring....or....?

Welcome to BYC! @Tinamariebutterfly
Stop on by the Michigan Chat Thread here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/michigan-thread-all-are-welcome.697050/page-4451

Yes, they turned 2 in August

 

[Tinamariebutterfly]

Yes, I have an idea. At 2 years of age, your birds are entering their second autumn. They will molt soon. You'll see lots of feathers around the coop and run.
If they don't molt in their first autumn, they will do so in their second autumn and each thereafter. Molt is accompanied by a dearth of eggs and it can last for a couple months or until after winter solstice. Each winter, given the same conditions, the break will last longer and longer.
Depending your latitude, in Michigan your days are now almost 3 hours shorter than they were at summer solstice. That is a signal for most species to shut down production.
It is also a clue in future years to start hoarding eggs toward the end of summer so you won't have to buy store eggs.
Don't despair. After days start getting longer, they'll resume laying like gangbusters.

Thank u so much for the info this is my 1st time having chickens so I have never heard of molting, but they have been losing alot of feathers now that u brought it to my attention!

 

[brindlelove]

are they warm eating enough or sick

 

[jspeese]

Indeed it sounds like it's time for them to molt. Mine (now 3 years old) had their first big molt last fall and are getting ready to do the same again now.

 

[Mary Chapman]

I'm from South Western MI and mine are all different. Some start laying again as soon as molt is over and some wait till spring. This year was an off year because they were slackers most of the summer. One hen went a year before she laid another one!!!