Change in Laying

[RobinSmith93]

My chickens are around 8 months old. They've been laying eggs for a little over a month now. They have a big coop down to my folks house. Recently my mom put hay in their coop because of the cool weather. It has been a few days since she added the hay and they haven't laid an egg since. None of them have laid a single egg and I'm at a loss. I know little about chicken behavior. Does anyone have any insight?

 

[sourland]

Good morning, and welcome to BYC. Chickens tend to dislike change - is there any chance they are laying in a hidden nest ?

 

[DobieLover]

My chickens are around 8 months old. They've been laying eggs for a little over a month now. They have a big coop down to my folks house. Recently my mom put hay in their coop because of the cool weather. It has been a few days since she added the hay and they haven't laid an egg since. None of them have laid a single egg and I'm at a loss. I know little about chicken behavior. Does anyone have any insight?

Have they had hay in the coop before? If not, it's a change and they may not like it and that will stress them. Any stress can cause a temporary reduction in egg production. Compound that with the days getting ever shorter and it may be a bit before they resume some level of production.

 

[RobinSmith93]

Good morning, and welcome to BYC. Chickens tend to dislike change - is there any chance they are laying in a hidden nest ?

We checked the entire coop. No hidden nest

 

[RobinSmith93]

Have they had hay in the coop before? If not, it's a change and they may not like it and that will stress them. Any stress can cause a temporary reduction in egg production. Compound that with the days getting ever shorter and it may be a bit before they resume some level of production.

This is the very first we've used hay. I didn't know change stresses them out. Thanks for letting me know.

 

[DobieLover]

This is the very first we've used hay. I didn't know change stresses them out. Thanks for letting me know.

Very much. They hate it. Try to keep a regular routine and they will be much happier.

 

[sourland]

Egg laying tends to decrease as the day length shortens, but young birds like yours generally lay through their first winter. It is odd that all of them stopped at the same time so suddenly.