continued lack of eggs...

[Minky]

I have 17 laying hens.15 are 2yr, 2 are 3 yrs.
I get 4-7 eggs a day with 5 as my average.
Over passed 3 weeks my #s are 4,4,5,3,6,4,4,5,7,2,4,5,5,4,8,3,4,5,5,4,5.

They free range in orchard, field and forest 9am-9pm. (no they haven't hidden. nest anyplace, IM SURE- I have looked extensively.) I feed BOSS and layer pellet, plus kitchen scraps.

I have 2 outdoor nest boxes in the goats run in shelter, for any out of shape or heavy set hens that cant fly over the fence if they get locked out...
I have 7 next boxes in the barn.
Some nests have lots of hay, some little hay, some pine needles... some nest boxes have golf balls in them to encourage eggs.

I swear, this has been going on for a whole year... There are 3 hens I have not seen in a nest box in over a year..... 8 hens I see in the nest boxes regularly, and the other 6 I see sit in there, maybe 1-2 hours, and then when they get out- no egg!!!!!

I have recently dewormed the flock (not because they had worms or poopy eggs- my eggs are clean) just because it was the only other thing I could think of.

I have:
2 Wyandotte's (they lay)
3 Welsummers (I think 2 lay, not sure about the 3rd)
12 Easter Eggers (some lay, some just sit, some never even think about laying!)

What is going on???

 

[WallyG74]

That’s a lot of hens and very little eggs. Something is amiss. I’ve read that 3 year old hens can stop laying but I believe those are the sex link breeds and unless I’m mistaken, EEs don’t fall in that category. Hopefully someone else will chime in with some useful info. Keep us up to speed on any new developments.

 

[MarkJr]

First things first. Do you have a trail camera?? It’d be nice to rule out varmints stealing eggs.

Second, have you thought of locking them in for a week? If that’s too heart breaking you can open them up to free range in the afternoons. 2-3pm or later should work.

How many kitchen scraps? I typically don’t have more than a quart jar full, which isn’t going to really effect that many chickens. If it’s a 5 gallon bucketfull you may want to stick with feed only until you get the laying resolved. I’m not sure what BOSS is. If it’s protein is 16-18% you should be golden.

Is this a recent drop? Maybe they’re molting??? Tis the season.

That’s how I’d approach it. I had digger squirrels swiping my eggs as fast as they were laying them. Killed a pile of squirrels, I’m averaging 7-8/10 layers.

 

[Acre4Me]

All good advice above.

Hidden nests. They could have one or more and an animal could be taking them or you haven’t found the nest (did you look up high?) Some hidden nests have been up higher than expected, or up and in-like a rotted out area of a tree, so expand your search if needed.


water: no eggs if not drinking enough. Since it’s been ongoing, maybe it’s not lack of water. However, is the water fresh/clean? Is it cool? Is it via nipples or open waterer?

feed: not enough correct feed and it can impact their laying. They free range, but are you also providing them pellets? What are they eating when free ranging, and what pellets (if any) fo you provide?

 

[Minky]

First things first. Do you have a trail camera?? It’d be nice to rule out varmints stealing eggs.
YES, no one is stealing eggs. Im home and have goats so I am in the barn regularly all day. No big snakes or anything small here. Have trail camera set up to film hens and figure out who is laying. Been there a week. Often gets bumped so not that successful so far.

Second, have you thought of locking them in for a week? If that’s too heart breaking you can open them up to free range in the afternoons. 2-3pm or later should work.
Last 3 weeks since Ive been doing the count, I have locked them in until 2 pm most days. Some days I left them out at 9 (they all want OUT) and then they all slowly wander back in to eat what ive put down, so then they are in from 10-2. Still not any more eggs then my usual pitiful count.

How many kitchen scraps? I typically don’t have more than a quart jar full, which isn’t going to really effect that many chickens. If it’s a 5 gallon bucketfull you may want to stick with feed only until you get the laying resolved. I’m not sure what BOSS is. If it’s protein is 16-18% you should be golden. Their food is 16 % protein . BOSS is black oil sunflower seeds, (about 1 cup a day) and I give about 4 cups of scraps a day (seeds, skins, egg shells, melon rinds, over ripe grapes and berries. etc)
FOR THE ENTIRE FLOCK which also has 42 pullets and cockerels.

so 65 birds- I dont think 1 cup of sunflower seeds and 4 cups of veggie scraps plus feed and all the weeds dirt and bugs they can catch is a bad diet? My eggs are delicious and I literally have a couple who drives 45 minutes one way to buy my eggs.. LOL even though they have many closer options.

Is this a recent drop? Maybe they’re molting??? Tis the season.
Spring of 2019 was great 15-18 eggs a day (I had 22 hens). By August it had become 11-12 a day, and then molting started.... had about 5-7 a day all winter, and other then a few great days this spring of 9 or 11 eggs, its been the same 4-5 a day.

That’s how I’d approach it. I had digger squirrels swiping my eggs as fast as they were laying them. Killed a pile of squirrels, I’m averaging 7-8/10 layers.

 

[Minky]

Hidden nests.

nope


water: no eggs if not drinking enough. Since it’s been ongoing, maybe it’s not lack of water. However, is the water fresh/clean? Is it cool? Is it via nipples or open waterer?

there is a nippled jug that most do not like- and they always have at least 3 dishes of water, plus one out in the field, and one by the pump. I change it am and pm, and I see them drinking a lot. We have delicious water. I have a motto, if I wouldn't drink from it, I change it.

feed: not enough correct feed and it can impact their laying. They free range, but are you also providing them pellets? What are they eating when free ranging, and what pellets (if any) fo you provide?
see above post

 

[Nikuchan]

I’m having the same problem. I keep them in until 2. Lots of water and on Purina pellets. My camera showed raccoons walking around but they can’t and didn’t get in. I caught Rhode Island “Red” eating 1 yolk of an egg. Leaving the shell almost intact. They have plenty of free calcium and grit. I was blaming it on the heat. The coop is in shade.

 

[Minky]

I had a couple of egg eaters- was always finding yolks, narrowed it down to my two danish brown leghorns, so I re-homed them to a lady who didn't feel it would be a problem. I dont have any more broken /eaten eggs, but am still not getting half of the eggs I should be.
So frustrating. Could it be they just dont like having a rooster?
Friends I have who get lots of eggs have no roosters.and they have sexlinks,

 

[aart]

It's near fall, days are shortening exponentially.
Likely are not laying to prepare for molt and winter break.

I swear, this has been going on for a whole year

Oh, well......then.
I'd guess there are hidden nests.......what happens if you free range.

 

[Minky]

There have to be other explanations. There are no hidden nests. I see my hens. They come out ..they eat grass and bugs.. then they dust bathe for a few hours under a tree and then they eat and roost outside in the shade, and laze about.
No infertility issues hens can develop/catch/inherit?