9 hens, 1 roo, 5 pullets = NO EGGS! What the heck is going on???

[nao57]

That has happened to me. one time they had a secret nest. The other was when the days and nights were extremely hot - 95-100 during the day and not much better at night.

Damn.

We're almost that hot here this time of year.

But I always that the low numbers on egg production were during the coldest parts of the year not the hottest?

I guess I have a lot to learn.

 

[marisaKC]

I had a similar issue last summer and it turned out to be a combination of less light (I put a tarp on the run and it did it’s job a little too well) and hens eating their own eggs. Any chance the wind is causing them to spend more time inside where there’s less light but protection from the wind?

 

[Double Yolked]

I have had my hens stop laying for a summer molt/rest most of the time starting about late June, early July and not start again until late September. It just depends on the breed. I have 3 Australorps that totally quit mid June and are either trying to brood or just chilling in the back lot. While my Barred Rock, Olive egger mutt and Gold Wyandotte are chugging right along giving me 3 to 5 eggs each a week. I do fully expect them to stop by August though, which is why I have several dozen eggs saved back in the freezer for the dry spell.
This is why I'm a big fan of mixed flocks. At least I get breakfast eggs regularly!

 

[NaperLix]

Putting fake ceramic eggs in most nests always kept that problem away.they get bored with all eggs from young age.

 

[Double Yolked]

Putting fake ceramic eggs in most nests always kept that problem away.they get bored with all eggs from young age.

I wish it worked. I have 6 fake eggs and one hen, Snugglebug who just won't stop brooding. If I remove all eggs she'll brood the empty nest box. One of the other Australorps tried to take over the favorite nest earlier and brood, the hens broke her of the whole idea, they beat the ever loving heck out of her. Bloodied her comb and had her cowering under the grape arbor for a while. But she did quit brooding! Now she's one of my 'Chillin' til fall" group.

 

[Peggsblueinc]

Ok, so egg production at my house is WAY down. I can't believe that for over a month now i've been getting days with no eggs or 1, or at most 3. The flock is healthy and fairly young (just took a couple to the vet and they got clean bills of health), they free-range on a fenced in acre, they have access to oyster shell and crushed egg shells for added calcium, I give them a treat of yogurt about 1x a week, and they've even been getting Layer Boost vitamins in their water which usually always gets them laying big time!. It's summertime, but temps have been in the 55-75 degree range, so not too hot. So why am I only getting 0-3 eggs a day????

Here are the only things I can think of that could be factors:

• a switch from Scratch n'Peck layer to Scratch n'Peck Grower feed with the addition of the 5 pullets to the flock about 5 weeks
• one broody hen has new chicks in a chicken tractor set up in my garden, separate from the main coop
• the month of June and July are 2 of the windiest times on record in my area (regular winds 15-25 mph, with occasional gusts 30-40mph)

Someone please, please, please tell me what I'm doing wrong here? Or what can I do to get my egg laying ladies back on the lay!?

Mine have stopped there usual laying. We had some wind but it the heat. 106 I have shade and plenty water. I give blue berries strawberries and cantaloupe. You name it. Oh and worms. Some people are getting eggs. I’m lucky if I get 3 out of 9.

 

[seraphine]

Ok, so egg production at my house is WAY down. I can't believe that for over a month now i've been getting days with no eggs or 1, or at most 3. The flock is healthy and fairly young (just took a couple to the vet and they got clean bills of health), they free-range on a fenced in acre, they have access to oyster shell and crushed egg shells for added calcium, I give them a treat of yogurt about 1x a week, and they've even been getting Layer Boost vitamins in their water which usually always gets them laying big time!. It's summertime, but temps have been in the 55-75 degree range, so not too hot. So why am I only getting 0-3 eggs a day????

Here are the only things I can think of that could be factors:

• a switch from Scratch n'Peck layer to Scratch n'Peck Grower feed with the addition of the 5 pullets to the flock about 5 weeks
• one broody hen has new chicks in a chicken tractor set up in my garden, separate from the main coop
• the month of June and July are 2 of the windiest times on record in my area (regular winds 15-25 mph, with occasional gusts 30-40mph)

Someone please, please, please tell me what I'm doing wrong here? Or what can I do to get my egg laying ladies back on the lay!?

I have a similar situation and I still can't find a hidden nest... it must be horrible by now OR COULD my dogs be eating the eggs in a hidden nest when no one's around???

 

[Mo'sMenagerie]

That has happened to me. one time they had a secret nest. The other was when the days and nights were extremely hot - 95-100 during the day and not much better at night.

Yeah, I wish that was the case here. But there's nothing hidden, don't see any predators around, and the weather's been pretty mild.

 

[Mo'sMenagerie]

I had a similar issue last summer and it turned out to be a combination of less light (I put a tarp on the run and it did it’s job a little too well) and hens eating their own eggs. Any chance the wind is causing them to spend more time inside where there’s less light but protection from the wind?

They are hiding under a tree a lot, which does equal less light

 

[Mo'sMenagerie]

I have had my hens stop laying for a summer molt/rest most of the time starting about late June, early July and not start again until late September. It just depends on the breed. I have 3 Australorps that totally quit mid June and are either trying to brood or just chilling in the back lot. While my Barred Rock, Olive egger mutt and Gold Wyandotte are chugging right along giving me 3 to 5 eggs each a week. I do fully expect them to stop by August though, which is why I have several dozen eggs saved back in the freezer for the dry spell.
This is why I'm a big fan of mixed flocks. At least I get breakfast eggs regularly!

This is reassuring (and kind of funny ) Love " my olive egger mutt" Sounds a lot like my situation. My americauna is still giving about 2 to 3 eggs a week, as well as my Russian orloff, but I've got a couple that keep wanting to brood as well. So that's not helping.