⠀ chicks only 7 1//2 months old...it's WARM here but no egg laying

[lady birds]

(First time for me & chicks: they are 7.5 months old) My chickens get layer feed and lots of green/ fresh herbs as well as oyster shell grit. they are friendly, look healthy have a large enclosed run but they ALL stopped laying in late september. it is still real warm in San Diego. Is this the norm? Also I see no sign of molt except one hen removed her chest feathers and went broody most of October.

 

[BorneHomestead]

molting should not be an issue right now as they aren't old enough to go through the annual molt (16-18 months of age). Some breeds take longer to mature and the days are getting shorter which also comes into play. Be watchful of bright red combs and the submissive squat when you place your hand on their backs. Both are sign of being close to laying their 1st eggs.

 

[lady birds]

5 of my hens had begun to lay between 5 1/2 and 6 mo of age then they all stopped. Morans Amerucana favorole & Andulusian

 

[BorneHomestead]

I would check for lice and mites and make sure they aren't laying their eggs elsewhere. How do their combs look? Have you had any predator attacks recently? as stress can also cause a drop in production.

 

[lady birds]

we did check for mites and could not find a thing no signs of a predator.should I just treat for mites anyway? ? thanks for response

 

[DrMikelleRoeder]

Are you providing supplemental light? It is day length, not temperature that stimulates the beginning and cessation of egg laying. Birds need 16 hours of light, daily to maintain egg production through the winter. Since your birds have already ceased laying, they may not start up again until next spring, even if you do supplement now with light. Next year, as fall approaches, set a lighting schedule of 16 hours light and 8 hours dark and maintain that to help support continued egg production. Also be sure to not overfeed greens and other treats, as the layer feed will provide the protein, energy and other nutrients necessary for the demands of egg production.

 

[lady birds]

THANK you for the response re the lighting- help for the young hens who had begun to lay then ceased. I started to give them more layer food and less scratch and 3 of them WENT BACK TO LAYING. Only the Morans have not laid again- one of them is HUGE and never has laid. They're a winter laying breed I think so may give me eggs in the winter. Pretty sure the andalusion will stop when it gets cool here.