Chickens roaming and egg laying

[jjudson]

We recently turned our chickens loose and they have free range over our property now. They stay within a 100 yards of their coop, rummaging through the underbrush and grass. They seem healthier and happier now (especially since one of them was pecking their feathers clean when they were penned up). They return to the coop on their own at night. At first, we had our regular egg production -- they would go back to the coop to lay in the nesting boxes. Now, though, egg production has dropped off substantially.

Will chickens on the roam find other places outside to lay? Or am I just hitting slow spot in their laying habits? I've checked their usual brushy haunts and don't see any eggs anywhere. I'm still getting eggs in the coop, but not nearly as many as before.

 

[SueT]

Usually they keep laying where they are accustomed to. What age, and are they still eating their layer feed? Some people lock them in the coop all morning to ensure they eat and lay before releasing them to range...

 

[The Golden Egg5]

Could predators be getting in during the day? Snakes or something else could be getting in during the day and stealing eggs.

 

[jjudson]

SueT, they are a little over a year old now. They are still eating their layer feed, but not as much as when they were cooped up as they're pigging out on eating our yard! We actually stopped locking them in at night in the last week, as that one hen was not fun for the rest to be cooped up with too long. I'm keeping my eye out for predators, and may change that decision if we start to suspect some.

The Golden Egg5, while we do have snakes, I don't think any are getting into the coop. We haven't seen anything else sniffing around the coop, either.

 

[aart]

Likely laying out in range area, locking them up for a time is useful,
but, your coop and run is crowded.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/aggressive-one-help.1172597/#post-18451844
Might be good to adjust your coop size or population before winter sets in.

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 for 3-4 days (or longer) 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 24/7 for a few days to a week, 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.

What is your location?(putting it in your profile really helps)
They maybe getting ready to molt, and that will slow/stop egg production.

 

[jjudson]

Well, today we're back up in eggs, so now I'm wondering what was going on. Still searched their haunts and didn't find any outside the coop.

aart, we're in the mountains of North Carolina. How can you tell when they're getting ready to molt? How often does that happen?

 

[The Golden Egg5]

I have nothing to add, but just wanted to say hi neighbor! What part are you located in? I'm in Boone.

 

[aart]

Well, today we're back up in eggs, so now I'm wondering what was going on. Still searched their haunts and didn't find any outside the coop.

aart, we're in the mountains of North Carolina. How can you tell when they're getting ready to molt? How often does that happen?

Searching and finding are 2 different things that's why it's best to lock em up for while if you want to be sure they are laying(or not) and to re-habituate them to laying in the coop nests.

My daughter lives just north of Asheville.....are you up on a peak or down in a holler?

Most chickens do an annual molt starting at about 16-20 months old in late summer or fall...tho age and time of year can vary greatly. The shortening of the days is most often the trigger for a molt, but other things can trigger them too. The way you tell is they stop laying and their feathers start falling out. You'll find more feathers laying about, some molt 'hard' and are almost bald in places, some molt 'softer' and it can be hard to tell. If you examine them closely you'll find new pin feathers growing in, handle them carefully tho as the new pin feathers are 'uncomfortable' and the birds can be crabby and/or lethargic during a molt. Bumping up the protein, especially animal protein, during the molt can help them thru it faster.

They may slow or stop laying before the feathers start falling, a good way to tell if a bird is laying or not is to do a 'butt check':

Vent Appearance:
Dry, tight, and smaller - usually not laying.
Moist, wide, and larger - usually laying.

Pelvic Points, feel for the 2 bony points(pelvic bones F-F) on either side of vent:
Less than 2 fingertip widths apart usually means not laying.
More than 2 fingertip widths apart usually means laying.
(Spacing is relative with chickens size and humans finger size.)

 

[jjudson]

I have nothing to add, but just wanted to say hi neighbor! What part are you located in? I'm in Boone.

Wow, neighbors! I'm in Fleetwood. We used to own a Hydroponics and Horticulture store in Boone up until this past January.

 

[jjudson]

Well all, this problem solved itself, though not in a good way. Unfortunately, we had a fox attack our flock the other day. He was on a killing spree, killing two in a row and was chasing a third when I grabbed my shotgun and chased him off (I couldn't get a shot off without hitting a neighbor's house). So our grand roaming free experiment is over and they are back behind wire 24/7.

Thanks for everyone's advice though! This is a great site for info and help.