Chickens not laying

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RobJo

RobJo

In the Brooder
Mar 19, 2025
2
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Hi,
I have been rearing chickens in Melbourne, Australia for 14 years. My run is 20m2 and I let the chickens free range 1-2 each week. I have a flock of 6 chickens and every 2-3 years I introduce 7 new chickens raised from day old and gradually introduce into the flock. The current older chickens are - 4 at 2 years old and 2 at 3 years old. I introduced the yournger chickens into the run propper 5 weeks ago and noticed a 50% drop in egg production which has been maintained over the last 5 weeks and worsened to 80% reduction this week and no eggs today. The pullets have now started laying.

I try to ensure the chickens aren't stressed, I have lots of retreat spaces and mini 'rooms' for the young ones who are at the bottom of the pecking order and the chickens to explore. I have used the same 'Lucky layer' pellets for the last 12 months. I turn the run over with some free range seed for them to scratch through and I throw green weeds and food scraps in everyday, usually the afternoon. Over the 14 years I have never had a problem such as this where they go off the lay for so long. I am wondering what else I can do? Summer temperature over past 5 weeks on average has been 28 degrees with occassional 35 degree days. Love to hear thoughts from the chicken experts out there.
 
Hello and welcome to BYC as far as I know sounds like you’re doing good for them
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RobJo said:
Hi,
I have been rearing chickens in Melbourne, Australia for 14 years. My run is 20m2 and I let the chickens free range 1-2 each week. I have a flock of 6 chickens and every 2-3 years I introduce 7 new chickens raised from day old and gradually introduce into the flock. The current older chickens are - 4 at 2 years old and 2 at 3 years old. I introduced the yournger chickens into the run propper 5 weeks ago and noticed a 50% drop in egg production which has been maintained over the last 5 weeks and worsened to 80% reduction this week and no eggs today. The pullets have now started laying.

I try to ensure the chickens aren't stressed, I have lots of retreat spaces and mini 'rooms' for the young ones who are at the bottom of the pecking order and the chickens to explore. I have used the same 'Lucky layer' pellets for the last 12 months. I turn the run over with some free range seed for them to scratch through and I throw green weeds and food scraps in everyday, usually the afternoon. Over the 14 years I have never had a problem such as this where they go off the lay for so long. I am wondering what else I can do? Summer temperature over past 5 weeks on average has been 28 degrees with occassional 35 degree days. Love to hear thoughts from the chicken experts out there.
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Welcome to byc.
 
Hello and welcome to BYC! :frow Glad you joined.
They were stressed when you introduced the new group. And you don't have a large original flock. So that could be a contributing factor regardless that it's been 5 weeks. They just need to adjust. And you are coming into your molt season if I am not mistaken. That will also just make the older girls stop and they may not start again until spring.
 

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