Chickens not laying

[bryanblack630]

My girls quit laying. They are going on their third year. Nothing has changed with food or water or their coup. Predators are not a problem as they are enclosed in their coup. Never had this problem before. I have noticed that they moulted a few weeks ago but some haven't laid in almost two months. They all (4) seem healthy otherwise. Also, just a few days ago, three of them started sleeping in the nest boxes.....never happened before either. I'm at a complete loss!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Where are you located? Most chickens over a year will quit laying between August and December to molt and recover. Most don't resume laying until December to March. It's important to feed a higher protein ration during the molt to help them get through it quicker. If you are feeding a layer you should switch to something else in the fall. The more depleted a hen is, the longer the recovery.

Welcome to BYC.

 

[guardianoftheflock]

Welcome to BYC! It's great to have you!!!

 

[bryanblack630]

Where are you located? Most chickens over a year will quit laying between August and December to molt and recover. Most don't resume laying until December to March. It's important to feed a higher protein ration during the molt to help them get through it quicker. If you are feeding a layer you should switch to something else in the fall. The more depleted a hen is, the longer the recovery.

Welcome to BYC.

I'm in Cincinnati, OH. I'll give this a try. What's confusing is this has never happened before. These are my first chickens so all of this is sort of new. Thanks for your input.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I'm in Cincinnati, OH. I'll give this a try. What's confusing is this has never happened before. These are my first chickens so all of this is sort of new. Thanks for your input.

Well your hens are getting older too. Usually you see you best production in the first 2 years. After that production can fall off, some quite dramatically. Most hens are considered spent after 3 years. Most of mine lay until 4-7 years of age, so yours could be at the end soon.

 

[bryanblack630]

Well your hens are getting older too. Usually you see you best production in the first 2 years. After that production can fall off, some quite dramatically. Most hens are considered spent after 3 years. Most of mine lay until 4-7 years of age, so yours could be at the end soon.

Thanks.....that's what I was afraid of.

 

[Melky]

My girls quit laying. They are going on their third year. Nothing has changed with food or water or their coup. Predators are not a problem as they are enclosed in their coup. Never had this problem before. I have noticed that they moulted a few weeks ago but some haven't laid in almost two months. They all (4) seem healthy otherwise. Also, just a few days ago, three of them started sleeping in the nest boxes.....never happened before either. I'm at a complete loss!

A molt can last up to 6 months but usually 2-3 months. I would add higher protein feed about 20% just while in molt and high protein snacks like mealworms or mealworm seed cakes.