Chickens only lay eggs when we let them out of their coop and run

TG3

Hatching
Oct 31, 2017
2
1
4
We have 7 chickens that we got as baby chicks in March of 2016. They began to lay eggs in about October of 2016. We kept them in a coop that is about 32 square feet with access to an outdoor run that is about 200 square feet. The chickens were a little slow to lay eggs during the first winter, but once spring of 2017 hit we were getting about 5 eggs per day out of the 7 chickens.

We elected to let the chickens free range for much of the spring and they continued to lay about 5 eggs per day. Eventually the chicks became more brave and ventured further from their coop and found the mulch in our landscaping. As you can imagine, they made a huge mess out of the landscaping. So we decided to keep them inside their coop and run. While leaving them closed up, they will not lay a single egg. If we let them out for a few hours, they will go lay eggs. We have had them closed in their run for a month now, not a single egg. We feed them a layer a crumble and they have access to clean water always.

Are our chickens on strike?
 
There are a good number of loose feathers. I had considered that, but what throws me for a loop is that if we let them out for the day, they will go lay eggs.
 
I have actually noticed that mine lay *more* after a day out of their run. I have several pens, and rotate which pen gets out each day/evening. My OEGBs are the worst at not laying on days they don't get out. But they sure lay better afterward! They have plenty of space, but i wonder if full exercise, space, privacy, etc are issues. Mine have room and privacy in their individual runs, but of course its not the same as having the whole yard!
 
We elected to let the chickens free range for much of the spring and they continued to lay about 5 eggs per day.
Did they always come back to coop to lay?

Agrees they are probably molting...but if they lay when you let them out...hmmm.

We have had them closed in their run for a month now, not a single egg.
Do you let them out every day or were they confined 24/7 for that month?
 
Have you considered the possibility that the chickens might be eating the eggs when they're in the coop? We've had a few egg eaters over the years. They'd eat all evidence of the eggs & the shells too. Also consider that you might have a snake in there that knows where to get free meals (snakes will also eat all evidence of the shell.) It would be interesting to invest in a coop cam to see whats going on in there.
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom