Chicken stress after long move. ceased laying.

[chickenchaser10]

Hello BYC,

i recently moved my small flock from Atlanta, GA down to south Florida on 10/10/16. it has been alittle warmer and slightly longer days down here but the chickens are loving their new yard. However, the egg laying has ceased. my normal egg layers laid the first day after the move but i suspect that those eggs were already in the oviduct. the second day only 2 laid. and now none have laid in about a week. im sure this is just from the change in environment but i have also noticed the birds are simultaneously molting. Is this just a coincidence that they would all molt together? Or did the change in temperature/environment cause them to molt? and if so, would the birds not lay until they are done molting?

Thanks

 

[redsoxs]

In my opinion they just need a few more days to re-start their lessons.

 

[junebuggena]

It is completely normal for them to stop laying for a few weeks after a big move. It is also normal for them to molt during this time of year. The molt could also be brought on due to the stress of the move. Laying may resume once they settle in and are done molting. Or they may not lay until spring is on the way again. Both outcomes would be completely normal.

 

[chickenchaser10]

thanks for the inputs.

 

[donrae]

How old are they? If they're hitting the 18 month mark, it's totally normal for them to molt and take the winter off. the move may have simply triggered that.

 

[chickenchaser10]

I think that's what's happened. Hopefully they don't take too long. I'm hungry