Drastic reduction in egg laying

[BowTechAggie]

We have 4 Silver Wyanadotts that have consistently been giving us 3-4 eggs per day for the past 3 months. They have a 4x8 run that they stay in, but we typically turn them loose daily for 3-4 hours. Two weeks ago our neighbor came over and asked that we keep our chickens cooped up. Apparently they had been going over into his yard and digging in flower bed. He tried several deterrents to keep them out but no success. He felt bad about asking us to lock them up, but he had no choice.

The chickens have been cooped up for 2-1/2 weeks now with no free ranging. This week (6 days) they have only laid 3 eggs total. Are they stressed because of their confinement, or does production typically slow down this time of year?

 

[17 chickens]

If they have a big enough chicken run they will be fine, They need plenty of light to keep up good laying this time of year. This is molting time of year are your chickens molting?
I don't let any of my animals out of my yard unless supervised, It is just a courtesy to others who live around me. I don't like it when their dogs try to attack my chickens so it's a win win all around! Try giving them more light and a bigger run and they will come around!

 

[BowTechAggie]

Their run is 32 sq/ft, but more importantly it’s a mobile coop that gets put in a new spot every 4-5 days. I was just curious if they were going on strike since I hadn’t let them free range.

 

[17 chickens]

No, They will start to lay again shortly!

 

[Stephine]

I think you might be getting a double whammy. Yes, being cooped up is more stressfull because they can’t avoid each other as well when there is some tension between two hens. Also, there is less diversion for them with limited foraging. So they might be a bit more stressed.
But on top of that we are going into fall and they are starting to molt (unless this is their first fall). That’ll reduce their egg production quite noticably. You’ll probably wait until spring for it to pick up again.
If I were you I would get a movable electric netting poultry fence from Premier1 to keep them away from the neighbor’s.

 

[strangeanimal]

hi ,
I don't know that much of molting or layingstops in chickens due weatherchanges but
the fact they used to free range and in general any change is for a chicken stressfull , I think this could be both of them , I do not know much about the breeds but if it is the time of the year it is possible that this factor x stress due changes could be the reason also free ranged they find more feed , so there is an extra change for them , I wouldn't really worry too much unless they would start showing symptoms of illness which is to what I read not the case .
Big chance they start to lay again if it is only the stressfactor which will also slowly go away if they get used to the new way .
I used to have freeranged chickens and they had to be locked up and even moved at the same time too , and they also stopped laying , but then every now and then eggs came back and other days nothing , so I'd just make sure they get all the nutrients they need and in a while this will be ok .
I know it is sad but if you have no choice , anyone has to adapt ...

 

[17 chickens]

So I finally took pictures of my hens eating their oatmeal for everyone to see just how much they love it.
They have it everywhere!