6 Hens, only 2 are laying. Free range, 2 years old. What's the problem?

[kbroom]

Help! I'm getting 2 eggs a day out of 6 hens.....

 

[DemeterAD9]

As the days get shorter molting season is upon most of us in the US. With molting comes a drop in egg production, couple that with less daylight and most mature hens will be shutting down till spring. 2 years old is about when the usual hens start slowing down on eggs too. They will still lay but not as frequently.

I’d be planning on adding some new hens next spring if you are wanting a steady supply of eggs. I prefer to replace some of the older hens with new girls every year as a pullet just coming into lay late summer/fall will often continue to lay throughout most of the winter months.

 

[Ikslo]

What kind of chickens?

Are you sure it’s just two chickens laying every day? Could it possibly be they are all laying, just not every day, so you are getting two but not from the same chickens?

How hard have you looked for hidden nests?

Could something be eating the eggs before you find them?

 

[kbroom]

One time, I did find a snake eating one of my blue eggs! It's not around anymore. I HAVE found that they like to lay inside a large planter in my flower garden. They also lay inside the garage. Lately, I've only found 1 or 2 eggs though. I tried to bring four new Easter Eggers, but a raccoon killed all four of them! I guess I'll wait until Spring to try it again. Thanks for all your advice.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

When mine lay "out," I confine them to the run for about a week to ten days to remind them that there are lovely nests in the coop, and wouldn't they really rather deposit their eggs in those? It usually helps and then I can let them free range again.

Also, have you checked your hens' vents to determine who is and isn't laying? Do you know how to do that?

 

[kbroom]

I tried that one time (confining them inside the pen). THEY WERE VERY ANGRY, AND ACTUALLY GOT UP A COMMITTEE, HEADED BY DANIELLE, my meanest Golden Sex Link! They were squawking and fluttering around. You would have thought that they were going in the pot that day! I finally just let them out again. I've never checked their vents since they were babies...that may prove a bit...challenging...

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Check them at night when they're on the roost. Either use a small flashlight or get a little headlamp, to leave your hands free.

It's up to you. You can get by on two eggs a day and wonder who's getting the rest, or keep them confined and let them get over themselves (they will!). They can't blackmail you if you don't go to the negotiating table. Put your music on loud so you can't hear them.