All of the sudden, zero eggs in a pen of 5 hens.

[QChickieMama]

I had a crow take our eggs, no sign of mess, nothing. They even took some that were under a broody and about to hatch we put a net over the run and within hours the crow was above the net mad

Eeew. that's sneaky!

 

[K0k0shka]

I'm in NC. It's still summer here. But I'll watch for molting before I tear their pen apart looking for signs of snake.

I'm in MA but it's still very much summer over here too, 90+ degree days and school closures and all, and no eggs for the past month...

 

[aart]

I'm in NC. It's still summer here. But I'll watch for molting before I tear their pen apart looking for signs of snake.

I'm in MA but it's still very much summer over here too, 90+ degree days and school closures and all, and no eggs for the past month...

It might still be hot and 'officially' summer until the autumnal equinox on Sept.21-22,
but the days are shortening exponentially and that's what triggers cessation of lay and molting.

 

[K0k0shka]

It might still be hot and 'officially' summer until the autumnal equinox on Sept.21-22,
but the days are shortening exponentially and that's what triggers cessation of lay and molting.

What puzzles me this year is why mine stopped laying and started molting so early, compared to other years... The daylight is still decreasing at the same rate as always, regardless of the weather. My queen hen started looking like a ripped up rag in August, when she usually doesn't molt until October...

 

[aart]

What puzzles me this year is why mine stopped laying and started molting so early, compared to other years... The daylight is still decreasing at the same rate as always, regardless of the weather. My queen hen started looking like a ripped up rag in August, when she usually doesn't molt until October...

I've found the older they get the earlier they start to molt.

 

[K0k0shka]

I've found the older they get the earlier they start to molt.

She’s only 3 years old though? English Orp, so not like a production breed with a short lifespan and general issues… The 2-year-olds are looking better than the 3-year-olds right now though, so maybe that’s it and I’m in denial about their aging

 

[Krugerrand]

Do you have a camera you can use to confirm eggs are being laid in the box and if so if something is taking them?

 

[Krugerrand]

Are they free range?
Do they normally lay in nests in the coop?

Up until this summer, my ladies always laid their eggs first thing in the morning. Any more, they lay them in the afternoon. So, if they're free ranging, it's pretty reasonable that they may find another play to lay them if they're away from the coop.

 

[Sally PB]

It might still be hot and 'officially' summer until the autumnal equinox on Sept.21-22,
but the days are shortening exponentially and that's what triggers cessation of lay and molting.

I have a hen that paused laying in June, molted a bit, and is now laying again. SMH. One or two other hens are laying, and the other two are not. I also go by the color of their combs; the layers still have bright red combs. The ones who aren't are noticably paler.

Yeah, the days are shrinking fast, aren't they?

 

[aart]

She’s only 3 years old though? English Orp, so not like a production breed with a short lifespan and general issues…

3's not that old, but could be the breed.

Ya just never know what those darn chickens are gonna do!