Chickens have stopped laying

[beepbeep]

We have 4 lovely chickens, but even though the days are longer they aren't laying (or they are laying the odd egg). The ones laid have a softer shell - not completely soft but not a strong shell. And sometimes i find a broken one on the tray.

I give them layer pellets, oyster shell and have recently started mixing in a poultry spice to their food.

They all seem very happy. They go into lay but never seem to lay an egg. They don't look eggbound as I think would make them look poorly.

Has any one got any ideas why my chickens aren't laying?
thanks
beepbeep

 

[Den in Penn]

Welcome to BYC.

How old are they? The older they are the longer it takes for them to get into gear in the spring. Older hens are more likely to lay odd eggs when they restart as well.

 

[beepbeep]

They are just over 2 years. I wonder if it's the weather as it's very very cold here, cold winds

 

[wekiva bird]

When is the last time you dewormed them ?

 

[beepbeep]

I wormed them about six months ago. But, I am actually worming them now - thinking that could be the problem. There was an egg in the tray this morning and it had collapsed it only had the white no yellow yoke at all. I have put some shelters in the pen as the cold wind is really, really cold.

 

[Den in Penn]

Can they reach the eggs in the tray? Because that sounds like a partly eaten egg.

 

[beepbeep]

Yes they can, and I know one of my ladies does eat eggs. But then there is always yellow left, and there literally is only white and a soft shell. So I really think it's not an eaten egg but one that breaks as it plops onto the tray. But I could always be wrong!!

 

[Den in Penn]

Well you could try giving them a vitamin boost. D3 is the one that helps absorb calcium. Not saying that will help them lay, but it might help with the soft shell. It just could be that some thing has disturbed them recently and put them off laying. Maybe say a predator that's coming around at night and rattling them.