Drop in egg production

[klinderman]

Hi all!

Summer is winding down here in Connecticut, but so is my chickens egg production We had one hen who started dropping feathers, a few weeks ago, but stopped loosing them about a week ago. I thought maybe it could be a molt, but no other hens are molting, and that one hen seemed to have stopped. We changed the run water to a nipple system (my boyfriend swears its because of this). All of their poops seems to be normal, and everyone eats very well. They get free range time every day for 4 - 6 hours a day. Would anyone know why we're seeing a drop in egg production?

We have 4 hens, and receive only 1 or 2 eggs per day. They hens are a year and a half old. We were getting a solid 3 eggs per day.

 

[sunflour]

Probably is the molt. Since yours free range several hours a day, more than one may be molting and you wouldn't see as many feathers as you would if confined.

 

[klinderman]

I want to believe its this, but I haven't noticed any loss of feathers on the chickens themselves, is that possible?

 

[sunflour]

I would guess it depends on what breeds you have. My BO's lost piles of feathers their first molt before I could see the feather losses. Most feathers were in the runs and less in the coop under the roosts.

Are you seeing feathers under the roosts in your coop?

Have you closely examined them, if they are molting you should be able to find some patches with new pins mixed with older feathers somewhere on the body.

 

[aart]

Sunflour makes good point about the molting.
I'll add that it's a good idea to increase the protein in their diet when they are molting t help grow new feathers.
Chickens will eat shed feathers(or pick them off other birds) if they are low on animal protein.

Your BF also might have a point about switching to a nipple system, if it's the only water available.
Even mild dehydration can reduce egg production, an egg is 75% water.
Switching adult birds to a nipple system can take awhile.
It's not a good idea to switch over when it's very hot or very cold as the best way to train them is to take away all other water sources.

 

[klinderman]

Thanks for your replies!! I'll take a closer look at them, though the only feathers i see scattered around are white, and i only have one white hen. We do have multiple water sources such as a hanging gravity waterer as well as large clean dog bowls that we fill everyday. It has been terribly hot these past few weeks, so could it just be stress of heat? They take regular dust baths and we have plenty of shadey cool places for them to hang out in

 

[sunflour]

I find it interesting that most sources report heat as a cause of reduced egg production, but personally have not experienced that. My hens are just over 2 yo and the GA summers are hot, humid - this year 90-100 F and it has not effected their egg laying. But they are in the shade with a fan and offered cold melons at the high of the days.

Let us know how how things go, hopefully she'll get back to laying.