All of our 2 Yr. old chickens stopped laying months ago!! Can't figure it out!

[Bettyboop7499]

LOL, just Frenches. I did put out another couple of eggs- one was pecked at pretty good. Still. I think Flora and Irene both may go to freezer camp in the spring. Flora definitely- Irene guilty by association. Missy is clear- she was in jail during this time. The egg I put in her enclosure was untouched. The most logical thing I can figure - either one of the workmen took the egg out of the run or more likely, there was a visitor to the coop and run when both the workmen and I were gone- a small window of a couple of hours. I have had evidence of a person - I think a kid - coming in the yard and messing with the coop and the shed. I have padlocks on the gates, but had them off because of the workmen. I dunno. Maybe aliens beamed that friggin egg up or maybe that crazy chicken ate the whole thing, shell, membrane and mustard.

Those aliens are going to be highly confused!

Hmm, when I first read this-I thought something else got the egg but I thought the run was 100% secure so if it isn't and there was a couple of hour window then I think something else took that egg...

If they are not eating the whole mustard egg then it's working but at this point they are still willing to take a chance-when the mustard egg hasn't been touched then you know you've broke their habit. And you are putting the mustard eggs in the nest where they would lay, right? If you are putting them in randomly then they may distinguish those eggs from their own. You want them to think they are laying mustard eggs. You could also put up a trail camera looking at the nest where they normally lay. Put a couple of mustard eggs and see who else is enjoying your eggs.


Do your chicks lay through the winter months? I have four Plymouth Barred Rock laying age hens and none are laying right now. I don't do the light thing..keeping it as natural as possible but I do miss my eggs. My husband created an eating of the egg issue for me, he would take an egg or two from the nest and throw them on the ground for the pigs..it didn't take long for the chicks to figure it out!

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!

 

[oldhen2345]

Those aliens are going to be highly confused!

Hmm, when I first read this-I thought something else got the egg but I thought the run was 100% secure so if it isn't and there was a couple of hour window then I think something else took that egg...

If they are not eating the whole mustard egg then it's working but at this point they are still willing to take a chance-when the mustard egg hasn't been touched then you know you've broke their habit. And you are putting the mustard eggs in the nest where they would lay, right? You want them to think they are laying mustard eggs. You could also put up a trail camera looking at the nest where they normally lay.


Do your chicks lay through the winter months?

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!

 

[oldhen2345]

Yes, the run is 100% secure. I have thought about a game camera aimed at the coop/run. Think I will do that.
Yes, I was putting the eggs in the nesting box as well as on the ground- one of the chickens drops her eggs there sometimes, she just can't get the hang of laying in the nesting box. I do have a ceramic egg in each box, and they are untouched. You would think a snake would eat those too - but I haven't seen any sign of snakes.
I have had chickens for several years and although laying was decreased in the winter, I have never had all of them completely stop laying in the fall. After brooding and molting, they usually pick right up again. Not this year. I don't have lights in the coop- I like nature to take it's course and the hens can get a bit of a rest. But, I would like some eggs. My new day old chicks are arriving tomorrow, so we will see what the spring brings.

 

[Bettyboop7499]

Yes, the run is 100% secure. I have thought about a game camera aimed at the coop/run. Think I will do that.
Yes, I was putting the eggs in the nesting box as well as on the ground- one of the chickens drops her eggs there sometimes, she just can't get the hang of laying in the nesting box. I do have a ceramic egg in each box, and they are untouched. You would think a snake would eat those too - but I haven't seen any sign of snakes.
I have had chickens for several years and although laying was decreased in the winter, I have never had all of them completely stop laying in the fall. After brooding and molting, they usually pick right up again. Not this year. I don't have lights in the coop- I like nature to take it's course and the hens can get a bit of a rest. But, I would like some eggs. My new day old chicks are arriving tomorrow, so we will see what the spring brings.

I completely agree about natural order. Also. If a chicken is born with all the eggs she will ever lay, it seems a light is only shortening her years of production and since some people harvest non-egg layers..it just doesn't seem fair to do that.

After a very nice weekend I got an egg today! Yes one egg, I have four layers...I can't wait for my chicks and ducks to start laying!

I don't think a snake would go after the ceramics, I'm not sure but I think they smell eggs so the ceramics would have no appeal. Something other than your chickens got that mustard egg, could have been a snake. You could put another one in the same place, put up a cam and have your answer..maybe! That is the hardest part the not knowing, how can you fix something if you don't know the cause. I had something picking off my chickens one by one in the woods. No bodies, sometimes no feathers..just gone. But the others would come running or flying back to the house so I always knew one was gone. One attack left one hen flightless and took my big beautiful Wyandotte Rooster. After that I moved the coop to the pasture with the pigs.

Anyway, I truly hope you find out what is getting your eggs. When you do let us know.