Chickens not laying???

[AlbertVinny]

Hi guys, I have 9 chickens (2 born spring 2019, 7 born spring 2020). One is molting so I understand her not laying eggs, but They only average 1-3 eggs a day! I am completely lost on why. They all look and act heathy and energetic, have access to oyster shell rocks, free range 6 acres, their boxes are easy to get to, they get fed a mix of scratch grain, sunflower seeds, and the purina omega 3 feeds. They free range with 3 peafowl but don’t care about them. I put a few pingpong balls in their boxes which normally helps them to remember where to lay. I tried locking them in the coop/run for a day or two to see if they may be laying somehwhere else, but nothing! I am very confused! They stopped laying around mid September

 

[CluckerFamily]

2 out of 5 of my pullets that hatched this spring are going through a mini molt and not laying.

 

[AlbertVinny]

2 out of 5 of my pullets that hatched this spring are going through a mini molt and not laying.

Are they losing feathers like normal molts? I only have a pullet who was broody for a weekend and she pulled out some stomach feathers but she has no other molting signs.

 

[CluckerFamily]

Are they losing feathers like normal molts? I only have a pullet who was broody for a weekend and she pulled out some stomach feathers but she has no other molting signs.

One lost feathers on the back of the head and the other one is missing small patches but all the feathers have started growing back. They should have their feathers all back before a main snow storm comes.

 

[aart]

The 2 older birds have likely stopped laying for molt and winter break.
The 7 younger birds may not all have started laying.
How old are they, in weeks or months?
Diet may play a part in that, as well as the shorter days.
I had my only pullet go broody a couple weeks ago, after only laying for a couple weeks.
I broke her but she still is not laying again.

Here's some tips about how to tell.....
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

 

[Aapomp831]

If they free range on 6 acres, there may be a hidden nest somewhere...

 

[aart]

If they free range on 6 acres, there may be a hidden nest somewhere...

My thought also, but......

I tried locking them in the coop/run for a day or two to see if they may be laying somehwhere else, but nothing!

..may take more than "a day or two".
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/run 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.

 

[AlbertVinny]

The 2 older birds have likely stopped laying for molt and winter break.
The 7 younger birds may not all have started laying.
How old are they, in weeks or months?
Diet may play a part in that, as well as the shorter days.
I had my only pullet go broody a couple weeks ago, after only laying for a couple weeks.
I broke her but she still is not laying again.

Here's some tips about how to tell.....
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

they are around8 months old. At one point we got 6 or 7 eggs!

 

[AlbertVinny]

My thought also, but......
..may take more than "a day or two".
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/run 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.

I will try locking them in longer, thanks!