Chickens went on egg strike!!

[Cohl0406]

I have (had) 3 laying hens. One astrolourp one RIR and one (what I think is) old English game hen. We moved and they seem to really like their new area. They were laying just fine and now the last few days I have only gotten 2 eggs and it was from my astrolourp. Usually my game hen laid 6 eggs a week and I haven't seen one from her in about a week same with my RIR. I also have 2 silkies a duck and a young Easter egger and young Wyandotte. They all get along well and have long ago found their pecking order. I've checked to make sure they aren't laying somewhere else but nothing. Tomorrow I'm going to toss extra food,more blueberries which they seem to love, some cut up grapes and I'm going to see if they like broccoli and carrots (I ground them up fairly well in my blender) I've also been cutting up young grapefruit for them. We have a tree producing tons and it's actually in their area (large fenced off portion of my yard) I don't know what would make all of them stop laying eggs.... Help!

 

[Ravynscroft]

Molting is common this time of year... got extra feathers laying around in the coop or run? Betting that's it... mine are molting hard right now, one of my roos looks roached, no tail feathers at all, lol...
I would warn to go easy on the citrus fruits, heard that isn't very good for them... easy on all fruits, really... up their protein levels of they are molting, they'll need it for the feather replacement...

 

[aart]

How long since you've moved?
Have they laid since you've moved?
Are the other birds new to the flock?
How old are they all (in weeks or months)?

I assume that you're somewhere warm (very warm) what with the citrus growing.
Agrees to quit with the 'treats', stick with a good poultry ration and see if that helps.

 

[N F C]

I don't think chickens are supposed to eat citrus. I've been using the treat chart in the Learning Center as my treat reference guide and citrus is under the "do not feed" list.

Here's the treat chart (the don't feed items are toward the very bottom):
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/chicken-treat-chart-the-best-treats-for-backyard-chickens

It's generally recommended that treats not exceed 10% of their daily diet (the other 90% being nutritional feed).

 

[newmarch2014]

If I remember right citrus impedes calcium uptake...or some other vital chicken nutrient that I am mixing it up with.

 

[N F C]

If I remember right citrus impedes calcium uptake...or some other vital chicken nutrient that I am mixing it up with.

I just did a quick Google search and came back with a couple reasons not to. You're on track...it gets in the way of calcium absorption. The other reason I saw (not sure whether it's fact or opinion) was the increased levels of Vitamin C can cause feather pecking.

Of course, being the Internet, I also saw where someone reported feeding chickens citrus peels can be good for their digestive systems.

I'm just going to go with the treat chart recommendations and not do it...why take chances?

 

[Cohl0406]

Yes I'm in Texas. South Texas. It's in the 90s still. will be for another month or so. My laying hens all have laid since we have moved. They are 6-7 months. My silkies (which I don't expect to lay much I just find them so pretty) are about 5-6 months and my 2 young ones are about 3-4 months old going off of approx when I got them. They were all a few days old.

I'm going to get some sort of bin and grow grass in. They are in a very shaded area with a huge oak tree and the grapefruit tree so little grass grows. I have been putting out more lay pellets for them should I get some oyster shell and add it to the mix? What about other greens like broccoli? I really feel like they are bored with their food which I heard can happen. And who can blame them?

 

[Cohl0406]

Oh and I have only cut up the fruit 1-2 times a week and they would only get it once a day on those days. Since it's still hot I figured it would be refreshing but I won't do that anymore.

 

[newmarch2014]

offer the oyster shell (or crushed up egg shells is what I use mostly) in it's own container separate from the food. They will visit it only as they need it.

 

[junebuggena]

Yes I'm in Texas. South Texas. It's in the 90s still. will be for another month or so. My laying hens all have laid since we have moved. They are 6-7 months. My silkies (which I don't expect to lay much I just find them so pretty) are about 5-6 months and my 2 young ones are about 3-4 months old going off of approx when I got them. They were all a few days old.

I'm going to get some sort of bin and grow grass in. They are in a very shaded area with a huge oak tree and the grapefruit tree so little grass grows. I have been putting out more lay pellets for them should I get some oyster shell and add it to the mix? What about other greens like broccoli? I really feel like they are bored with their food which I heard can happen. And who can blame them?

The more treats you give them, the less likely they are to eat their feed. With birds kept in a run, you have to be careful not to give them too many goodies. No more than 10% of their daily diet should be treats. They need protein to produce eggs (eggs whites are mostly protein). Fruits and veggies don't have a whole lot of protein in them.