Chicken Commune - Egglaying Issues

[nightowlmama]

So I have 17 chickens divided between 3 coops - 2 small with four in each (5 capacity) and 9 in the large coop (10 capacity). 16 are Red Star and one was a mystery chick - we think that one is a Blue Red Laced Wyandotte. They are 31 weeks old and only 16 are laying and this week only 12. It's actually been pretty inconsistent which is weird for this breed. They all have 9 foot runs and free range every day. Here is what I'm wondering - Every day when the chickens go back into their coops because they are not banded they are constantly regrouped. Would this effect egglaying? Should we band them and make sure the same ones go into the three different coops or does that matter? I'm open to hearing other ideas too.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Where they roost shouldn't matter for egg production. Production can be decreased this time of year, and will pick up as spring approaches.

Another possibility is they are laying elsewhere. If your coops are smaller some may choose a new site instead of return to a smaller coop.

 

[aart]

They are 31 weeks old and only 16 are laying and this week only 12.

How are you figuring how many birds are laying? The number of eggs you collect will not give an accurate count as all birds don't lay every day.
Free range birds may have found a 'better' place to lay.
Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.

2 small with four in each (5 capacity) and 9 in the large coop (10 capacity)

How big are these capacities in feet by feet?
Dimensions, and pics, could help immensely here.

Should we band them and make sure the same ones go into the three different coops or does that matter?

Banding them won't make them go into the 'right' coops, but it may help you see who is going where. The problem with multiple coops is that too many may try to go into a too small coop....which could cause stress which could affect laying.
Keeping them confined to the runs attached to the coops(I think each coop has a spearate run?) would keep them sorted.

How old are your birds?
...and...
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, (laptop version shown), then it's always there!

 

[nightowlmama]

So our chickens are always in their coops and each coop has its own run attached - we let them out to free-range almost everyday. Unfortunately, though we live in a regular neighborhood, we have a mass of predators including bears - we had a bear smash one of our runs last year and kill our favorite pet chicken Henrietta. So they only free-range under supervision because the foxes, bears etc come in broad daylight. We never find eggs in the yard but sometimes find them in the run. Mostly they lay eggs in the coop and we have a fake egg in each coop.

Our small coop & run from Omlet looks like this - https://www.omlet.us/shop/chicken_keeping/portable_chicken_coop_eglu_go_up/. It has a six foot run. The large coop looks like this - https://www.omlet.us/shop/chicken_keeping/large_chicken_coop_eglu_cube/. The large one has a nine foot run.

We always make sure that the correct number of chickens go into the appropriate coop so there is no overcrowding. They are 31 weeks old. Usually this breed (Red Star) lays eggs all year long - even through the winter. Normally this breed will start laying at 18 weeks but ours started around 24 weeks. Our chicken that the bear killed laid eggs every single day without missing a day all year long. She was the same breed.

I'm in Manassas, Va. Thanks for the help!