Chickens stopped laying

[mymilliefleur]

You really need to put feed out year around. Modern egg layers can't keep up their production on the land alone.

 

[dogkahuna]

I've got the very same problem--12 hens less than 2 years old who were laying 8-9 eggs a day, now laying 1-5 eggs a day. No predators, no secret nests, no noticeable health problems, no hot days, varied diet including layer feed every day, decently big run which I switch around with electro-net so they can work different soil beds, fresh water supplied.

I have been trying to figure this out for a month and am completely vexed!

 

[Kiki]

I've got the very same problem--12 hens less than 2 years old who were laying 8-9 eggs a day, now laying 1-5 eggs a day. No predators, no secret nests, no noticeable health problems, no hot days, varied diet including layer feed every day, decently big run which I switch around with electro-net so they can work different soil beds, fresh water supplied.

I have been trying to figure this out for a month and am completely vexed!

Could they possible be eating their eggs?

 

[Kiki]

I've got the very same problem--12 hens less than 2 years old who were laying 8-9 eggs a day, now laying 1-5 eggs a day. No predators, no secret nests, no noticeable health problems, no hot days, varied diet including layer feed every day, decently big run which I switch around with electro-net so they can work different soil beds, fresh water supplied.

I have been trying to figure this out for a month and am completely vexed!

Have you tried to add more protein into their diet to see if this kicks them back into laying?

 

[dogkahuna]

I've looked for evidence of egg-eating and found none. I've tried adding some additional protein also.

 

[aart]

Lock em up!

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.

 

[dogkahuna]

Thanks aart! I will try cooping them for a few days after we get past a couple hot days at the beginning of this week. Only 2 of 12 hens are new layers, so the other 10 should be quick to readjust hopefully.

 

[Kiki]

Locking them back up into the coop would not "make" them start laying again. If they were laying out in the yard (hiding eggs), and once you Lock them up if you start getting eggs again....it will let you know that they were actually hiding eggs.

 

[dogkahuna]

Thanks aart! I'll coop them after we get past a couple hot days at the beginning of the week. Only 2 of the 12 hens are new layers so the others should remember quickly hopefully.