ALL of my brown egg layers stopped hens to be sent the soup pot!!!!

[maf2008]

Please help me understand why the BROWN egg layers went on strike? All of the WHITE egg layers are laying eggs like bombs!

all have the same food, nest boxes and are in the same pen....All of the brown egg layers are the same age as white egg layers 6 months old... what is going on here... If I do not get brown eggs soon... these hens will have to go to the processor and soup pot!!

any ideas???

 

[Elite Silkies]

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Different things affect different breeds. Some lay good when it is hot and others don't. I wouldn't send then to the soup pot just yet.

How old are they?

 

[WingingIt]

Where are you? Maybe they are too hot? How old are they?

 

[NurseNettie]

Is there a difference in their ages? Are the brown egg ones due for a molt, and they're just done for now? How old are they? Was it gradual, or just no more brown eggs all of a sudden one day? ( if so-- do you have 2 legged predators, maybe... who like brown eggs?)

 

[speckledhen]

Maybe this is your problem. If your white layers are Leghorns, they are bred to lay till they drop. Most brown egg layers are dual purpose birds who may lay fewer eggs, on average, than a leghorn. Not sure why all brown egg layers would stop at once, but if no need for the stew pot just because they took a short break, I'd say, especially if they are pretty young. Chickens are not machines and do take breaks depending on stress, heat, molt, broodiness, etc, etc.

 

[maf2008]

The Ideal 236 are egg laying machines (white)...... I did rethink this and even though all hens are within weeks/days of same age. It has been REAL HOT

as of late. The weather just "cooled" down from 105 for several months in a row to 95ish....

This migh make a dfifference. But I want the brown eggs soon!!!

I wont send to soup pot yet... but so help me if those hens do not start producing brown eggs soon....

right to the processor with the cornish cross. I have 30 more or less and get ONE brwon egg per day... 29 of them are on strike!!!

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[Maryallison]

wow...now that is alot of chickens to be on strike!

I hope they start laying for you.

 

[austinhart123]

they may be molting

 

[chickenlittle32]

Mine just got done molting...and are finally starting to lay again...this could be it..

 

[speckledhen]

Most of mine are older than yours, but I have seen a marked decline in my production, too (I have only brown or blue/green egg layers, no white). From 29 in the laying flock, I'm getting maybe 10-12 a day at the moment. I'm sure it will pick back up since yours are so young. That heat will make a huge difference, I promise you.