Broken egg, predator?

[yellowpliszka]

My chicken stop laying eggs since August. One of them, the oldest is sometimes lay one egg. Six other are not laying. I did found broken egg shell at least 4 times. Something is stressing them out?

 

[Vickery]

My chicken stop laying eggs since August. One of them, the oldest is sometimes lay one egg. Six other are not laying. I did found broken egg shell at least 4 times. Something is stressing them out?

I once had an entire summer where most/many eggs were broken, pecked or knocked out of the nesting boxes. It took me several months (!!!) to finally find out that it was blue jays flying into the coop (barn door was open) and pecking the eggs (or knocking them out). Had never heard of that...and thankfully, I realized it BEFORE I took drastic measures (thought I had egg eaters in the flock). Is anything getting in? Be vigilant about picking up eggs A LOT each day. Good luck.

 

[ejtrout31]

I say a skunk

 

[NoFlyBackFarm]

Skunk or raccoon maybe...

 

[yellowpliszka]

I saw opossum twice. Can he be a reason of not egg laying?

 

[Shepshill]

How old are your chickens?

 

[Vickery]

It's also molting season now but I would think a possum would eat/break eggs. and they could definitely scare them.

 

[yellowpliszka]

It's also molting season now but I would think a possum would eat/break eggs. and they could definitely scare them.

How long molting can take?

 

[Vickery]

Depending on how significant the molt is...up to 3 months. Sometimes they lose a lot of feathers, sometimes they only lose some.

 

[Vickery]

Here is one of many articles to help you understand the annual molt in chickens
https://www.grit.com/animals/molting-what-is-it--how-to-help-chickens-get-through-it