Decreased egg production

[Ercvt76]

We have a flock of 12 one year old hens. They were laying like champs until a week ago. Now we are getting 1-3 eggs/ day. I live in central Illinois. It’s been hot and humid but I’m not sure that’s the reason. They are free ranged, but we have premier fencing to keep predators out. We have scoured their yard and they aren’t laying in the yard or their run. What gives?

 

[hysop]

Mine have recently stopped laying and it is most likely due to the spike in temperatures.

Try to keep their water cool all day by adding ice, make sure they have enough shade and maybe even add a shallow kiddy pool so they can cool down.

Today is day 2 of 0 eggs for me. Thankfully I have like 100 in my fridge so I’m not hurting.

 

[aart]

We have a flock of 12 one year old hens. They were laying like champs until a week ago. Now we are getting 1-3 eggs/ day. I live in central Illinois. It’s been hot and humid but I’m not sure that’s the reason. They are free ranged, but we have premier fencing to keep predators out. We have scoured their yard and they aren’t laying in the yard or their run. What gives?

Could be the heat....or they have made a secret nest.
Confine them to the run for a few days.
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 a week or so 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 and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, 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.

 

[Ridgerunner]

The most common reason hens stop laying is the molt. This time of the year where you are and with that big a drop-off that would be strange, but are you seeing a lot of feathers flying around? Sometimes stress can cause a molt.

Stress can also cause then to reduce production. Extreme heat can do it. Have they run out of water? Andy changes is housing or food? Has the pecking order changed? A big one, any change in lighting? Has a security light gone out or other changes to lights? Lighting is a big factor in the hen laying.

A fairly common cause is a hidden nest. I don't know how big of an area yours are ranging in but they can be really good at hiding a nest. That drop-off sounds to much to be a hidden nest but maybe it is a contributing factor.

Is something getting the eggs? Most critters that take the eggs leave signs like egg shells or wet spots in the nest. The chickens might clean up the egg shells but with that many eggs disappearing I'd be surprised if they cleaned up that many consistently.

The critters that typically take eggs without leaving signs are snakes, canines, and humans. If it is consistent it's not likely to be a snake. A snake will eat some eggs (how many at a time depends on how big the snake is) then go away for a few days to digest them before it comes back. A five foot rat snake took four at a time, that was all it wanted.

A canine like a fox or coyote would probably be more interested in your chickens than the eggs, but often a dog will eat eggs and not harm your chickens. Does a dog have access?

I'll let you think about a human.

Are they acting sick or acting normal? Some diseases can stop egg production but usually the hens will act sick if they are. Are the eggs you are getting normal? Sick hens can lay unusual or strange eggs. If they are acting normal and the eggs are normal it is unlikely to be a disease.

So what can you do? if you mark some eggs and leave them down there and they disappear you know something is getting them.

If you can lock them in the coop only or coop/run area only and the egg count goes up, you have either stopped them from going to a hidden nest or you have locked out an egg eater. Could be either but you'd know they were laying.

Good luck. This type of thing can be really frustrating in figuring it out. It's probably just a glitch that takes care of itself, at least I hope so.

 

[GC-Raptor]

They were laying like champs until a week ago. Now we are getting 1-3 eggs/ day. I live in central Illinois. It’s been hot and humid

Yeah, I notice a decrease in production during the heat of summer.
Feed consumption drops off and they lay less.
I found when you increase feed intake egg production resumes.
First if you give treats, I give mine Scratch Grains daily scattered in their pen, cut back by half.
Second I increase feed intake by giving them a wet mash of the regular feed by wetting with cold water from the fridge.
I give a 1/2 cup dry feed for 4 hens. 1 1/2 cups for 12 hens. Add an equal amount of water and serve immediately.
I feed this early afternoon daily during summer. . I only have 3 hens now, lost one to a Fox or Bobcat last Friday and another to a Fox last April while Free Ranging.
I got 15 eggs last week. My hens are 22 months old.
It's time to give my hens a wet mash. GC
ETA; feed in a shady spot.