Chickens not laying

[72hadley]

I bought 8 chickens at an auction over a month ago and only one of them is producing. 7 are hens, 3 are orpingtons - so known good layers, but none of them are producing. They free range on the weekends, but they have a good sized run they enjoy during the week and a large coop. If you have any suggestions, please share.

 

[birdwrangler057]

Hi, and welcome to BYC, If you bought them from an auction, it is likely that they were handled a lot and need a little time. Or they are a they are too old and will lay every once and a while.

 

[birdwrangler057]

What kind of hens are the others, I assume the orpingtons are hens as well.

 

[aart]

I bought 8 chickens at an auction over a month ago and only one of them is producing. 7 are hens, 3 are orpingtons - so known good layers, but none of them are producing. They free range on the weekends, but they have a good sized run they enjoy during the week and a large coop. If you have any suggestions, please share.

Welcome to BYC!

How old are they?
If they are 18 months old(give or take a couple months) they may be getting ready to molt,
if you are in the northern hemisphere.

Moving birds to a new place is stressful and it can take days, weeks....
.....or months for them to get comfortable and lay again.

How big is your coop and run...in feet by feet?
Pics of birds and housing might offer some clues.

What, and how, exactly are you feeding?

 

[birdwrangler057]

Whoops, I totally forgot the factor of molting!

 

[luvpetchickens]

I have 5 hens. In august they all starting laying on eggs and hatching chicks!!

But now they are not laying eggs... at all. Why is this? They are all 1 years old. Thanks!!

 

[birdwrangler057]

Are they molting?

 

[birdwrangler057]

It also my be nutrition.

 

[birdwrangler057]

As aart said earlier, it could be the changing of daylight and temperature depending on your location. I don't usually have this problem until late November because I live in the Southern Hemisphere.

 

[aart]

As aart said earlier, it could be the changing of daylight and temperature depending on your location. I don't usually have this problem until late November because I live in the Southern Hemisphere.

You live in Charleston, South Carolina?
Um...... that is in southern United States but still in the northern hemisphere