4 eggs from 21 hens ? what is UP???

Minky

Crowing
6 Years
Nov 4, 2017
1,526
2,417
316
Ontario
21 hens. 1 rooster.
2 are exactly 3 yrs old.
17 are exactly 2 yrs old.
2 are exactly 1 yrs old.

All are heritage breeds or EE. No one is unhealthy. They aren't hiding them--- I have looked all thru goat run-in, barn, forest and under the Sumac they love to dust bathe in- no nest of eggs. There is really only my CLB that loves to lay in weird hay spots- and I found hers today and yesterday. (yesterday I had 5 eggs, day before 6). Last week was getting 8-11 each day....... (and I thought that was bad....) what is up???
there have been no animal attacks, I dont have dogs, my kids havent been in there bugging them... there are no stresses I can think of....???

I feed them layer pellets from local farm store (Sunderland) free choice, they always have freshwater, grit and oyster shell, they get maybe 3 cups of table scraps per day (apple cores, cantaloupe rinds, leftover crusts, ends of romaine, carrot peelings etc ) maybe 1 cup of boss each day, scattered about... they free range on 27 acres of mixed forest, orchard, etc... from about 9am til when they roost at 630 or so everyday. People rave about the flavour of my eggs.. if only I had more.
What the heck am I doing wrong???
 
Since they free range full time, there may be hidden nests on your property. You might want to keep them in the coop for a full day or 2 to get them used to laying in the nesting boxes again.
 
Oh, I forgot to mention- today was rainy all day so I DID!! I locked them up all day- 4 eggs!!
 
1. Hiding them-you checked, say no.
2. Eating them-you would find leftover mess in nest box
3. Molting-do you notice any evidence of molting?
4. Boody- my egg production is down right now because i have 6 hens gone broody.

Hows the weather? Any severe changes? A cold snap might put egg production off...
 

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