4 mos old chickens laying then stopped...

[MrsSalo]

Hi,
My 17 week old chickens had started laying(well a few were) I was getting 1-2 eggs per day for about a week or so. Then I saw a soft shell egg. Now nothing!

I started them on layer feed this weekend and they have oyster shell. I am worried if they are on layer pellets when they have stopped laying...should I be? I am wondering if they are slow starters.
I also haven't heard them "singing" this week either. We did just cull 3 Roos from the flock...would the affect laying?

I am confused and worried. On a side note, the all act fine.

 

[Pork Pie]

Maybe they are just trying to sort their egg laying equipment out - laying can be erratic at first. Since they are on layers feed and you provide oyster shell it can't be an issue related to calcium. One of my young hens started laying last week and she produced 3 soft shell eggs but yesterday her egg was fine, so i would not worry too much.

CT

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

removing members from the flock can cause some stress, so certainly it could make them halt laying, you didn't say which breeds, 17 weeks is pretty early, so patience, it will slowly work out.

 

[MrsSalo]

Thanks for the reassurance! I went out to close everything up for the evening and found two beauties in the nest boxes. I guess at least a couple ladies are back in business, lol.

I have a mixed flock; buff orpintons, red stars, speckled Sussex, delwares, rhode Islands and unknown (light gray with gray feet). I have 13 hens total.

 

[aart]

Not unusual for things to be inconsistent for the first month or so of laying.....and even after that, lol!