3+ months with no eggs

[Fisherfarmspraz]

Hey! I want to start this with an acknowledgement that I know chickens go through seasons of not laying. I have had hens many years and understand the basics of when to expect the ebb and flow of eggs (molting, winter, old age, etc.). And a few weeks or even a month of not laying for a laying hen has never worried me too much.

However, my current issue is more extreme than all that. I have 18 hens. Most of which are spring chickens. They just started laying in April or May. The "older" ones are 18 months old. And in the last 3-4 months, I only have 2 hens that have laid anything at all.

What is going on?

They are done molting. Our climate is mild in both summer and winter. I have been feeding them table scraps and mealworms in addition to their regular feed. I've started letting them out of their run into a large fenced in area to free range. We did switch their feed a little while ago, but it was gradually over many months. Like I said, they are not old hens by any means. They look and act healthy.

Why are they not laying? What can I do?

 

[FrostRanger]

I would look for a hidden nest, you'd be surprised where they can hide a nest even in a small run. That said with days being shorter they may not lay much until spring

 

[MROO]

I agree with @FrostRanger - you've likely got a hidden nest somewhere. As young as your birds are, at least a few should still be laying, even in winter cold and short days. If you don't find a secret stash (and even if you do,) check your birds closely for mites. An itchy chicken will not lay! Parting the feathers around their vents should reveal critters, nits or eggs and there are many effective over-the-counter remedies for them. Good Luck!

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

Do the combs look vibrant?
It's difficult to tell on some birds, but if the comb is vibrant then they're probably laying or preparing to.

Stress and parasites can do a lot of damage and cause them to stop laying, as well.