Chickens Stopped Laying Randomly!?

[crazychickenlady95]

I left for vacation last Friday. Someone has been watching my house and taking excellent care of my ladies for me while I've been gone. She texted me yesterday and said I've not gotten a single egg since Friday (the day I left). I asked her the following questions.

Do they have fresh water always available? Yes.

Is their feeder full? Yes.

Is there anything spooking them inside the coop? No.

Am I missing anything? What could be going on with my girls? I have 10 chickens and all 10 have not laid a single egg since i left! I usually get between 8 to 10 eggs a day!

 

[RodNTN]

What breeds are they? If they aren't stressed they could be molting. Is it hot where you live? Sometimes heat can play a part in a situation like this.

 

[HuskerHens18]

This seems to be a common question, and I'm wondering if it has anything to do with you being gone. They know you and probably even love you, but when a "stranger" starts taking over, I wonder if they get nervous and thus stop laying. Just a thought, I see people ask this question quite often. And now that I think about it, when I was gone they barely laid 10 eggs out of 23 hens for a week....

 

[crazychickenlady95]

What breeds are they? If they aren't stressed they could be molting. Is it hot where you live? Sometimes heat can play a part in a situation like this.

I have red and black sex links, silver laced wyandotte, and a silkie! I live in Georgia and it is quite hot here this time of year.

 

[crazychickenlady95]

This seems to be a common question, and I'm wondering if it has anything to do with you being gone. They know you and probably even love you, but when a "stranger" starts taking over, I wonder if they get nervous and thus stop laying. Just a thought, I see people ask this question quite often. And now that I think about it, when I was gone they barely laid 10 eggs out of 23 hens for a week....

Goodness! I'd love to think they just miss their mama

 

[HuskerHens18]

Goodness! I'd love to think they just miss their mama

When you get back, update this thread how quickly your hens go back to laying normally. Now I'm very curious!

 

[RodNTN]

I left for vacation last Friday. Someone has been watching my house and taking excellent care of my ladies for me while I've been gone. She texted me yesterday and said I've not gotten a single egg since Friday (the day I left). I asked her the following questions.

Do they have fresh water always available? Yes.

Is their feeder full? Yes.

Is there anything spooking them inside the coop? No.

Am I missing anything? What could be going on with my girls? I have 10 chickens and all 10 have not laid a single egg since i left! I usually get between 8 to 10 eggs a day!

I have red and black sex links, silver laced wyandotte, and a silkie! I live in Georgia and it is quite hot here this time of year.

Do they have plenty of room in their coop? Have you ever had problems with egg eaters?

 

[jolly wattles]

Do they typically lay in a specific nesting box? You being gone and them being spooked by the stranger could cause them to seek out hidden nests.

 

[crazychickenlady95]

Do they have plenty of room in their coop? Have you ever had problems with egg eaters?

Never had a problem with eaters! There is more than enough room and usually my girls lay every single day for me! Hopefully they are just a little stressed from me being gone. I will be back Friday and can update more!

 

[crazychickenlady95]

Do they typically lay in a specific nesting box? You being gone and them being spooked by the stranger could cause them to seek out hidden nests.

Actually yes they lay in the same 2 boxes every time! I will have her check around the yard!