Before you say so.... yes I know there's currently a thread on why your hens may not be laying. I found incredibly unhelpful, and tried to post my own story and got no response.
Also multiple times in the past i've posted questions only to have someone respond with links to other threads or websites. And often those threads have 100+ posts....i'm sure the answer may be in there somewhere but really I'd just like a straight answer or your personal opinion.
I have a laying flock of about 50+ birds. They'ce been laying very well for me the past 2 years or so. The oldest birds are about 2 years old, the youngest around 6-7 months. I band them all with a new color each year/hatch so their ages are accurate to within a few months.
I have an assortment...mostly EE's that are crosses between an Ameraucana rooster and assorted brown layers (gold comets, barred rocks, etc). Thre's one little white leghorn in there, a welsummer cross, a couple gold comets, etc.
They live in an enormous coop....I joined together two old barn stalls and the aisle between them to make a 22'X14' sized coop. The cieling is also around 10' high. There's a whole wall of perches, a little cove with nest boxes, and there's a screen door on each side to let sunlight in. But that's not all! They are also given 24 hour access to a 22X20 foot outdoor run. I sprinkle their scratch out here, and also pick for them grasses and weeds to toss in. They also get the occasional produce parts or the end pieces of the bread.
I feed a mix of mostly layer pellets (kalmbach) and mix in a little bit of oats, and cracked corn. But it's about 80% layer. I've had the on straight layer before and they occasionally went off feed....so I added some 'spots' of more 'interesting' things to peck at. They also get a little bit of beet pulp every couple days. Though I haven't fed it for the last week or two. no change.
They're all fat happy birds from what I can tell. I also worm them with ivermectin every 6 months. The coops are regularly dusted with DE. And and the birds are externally treated for parasites every 6 months as well. I can't find a single mite or flea on anyone. In fact they just finished their molt about 2-3 weeks ago and every looks like a chicken supermodel.
About 6-8 weeks ago egg production hit a wall. and within a week had completely stopped. Not a single egg from a single bird.
So i've ruled out molting since they ALL completely quit weeks before and after their molt. You'd think with a flock this big I'd get an egg here or there at least. but NOTHING.
Also ruled out daylight issues since they have so much outdoor time and the coop is so open with the screen doors as well. And since this problem started long before the daylight really started to wane, I dont really think its the issue. It gets dark here at 730. Thats still plenty of light for the occasional egg isn't it?
Parasites aren't the issue.
No one is broody.
Everyone is well fed.
Also i'm n the process of moving. So about 2 weeks ago, half the flock was moved to a friend's barn down the street. They are now in a large rubber matted horse stall. Still getting plenty of light and food. Still perfectly healthy. I got one egg the day after I moved them. And nothing since. I've been slowly moving the birds over in groups each weekend. I no onl have about 5 hens left to move.
No eggs from each side.
Ok so now the big question...what could possibly be the problem? And yes, I think there's a problem. Since my seemingly perfectly healthy birds are not doing what perfectly healthy birds do. And chicken feed is just too expensive to simply be feeding the birds.
Also multiple times in the past i've posted questions only to have someone respond with links to other threads or websites. And often those threads have 100+ posts....i'm sure the answer may be in there somewhere but really I'd just like a straight answer or your personal opinion.
I have a laying flock of about 50+ birds. They'ce been laying very well for me the past 2 years or so. The oldest birds are about 2 years old, the youngest around 6-7 months. I band them all with a new color each year/hatch so their ages are accurate to within a few months.
I have an assortment...mostly EE's that are crosses between an Ameraucana rooster and assorted brown layers (gold comets, barred rocks, etc). Thre's one little white leghorn in there, a welsummer cross, a couple gold comets, etc.
They live in an enormous coop....I joined together two old barn stalls and the aisle between them to make a 22'X14' sized coop. The cieling is also around 10' high. There's a whole wall of perches, a little cove with nest boxes, and there's a screen door on each side to let sunlight in. But that's not all! They are also given 24 hour access to a 22X20 foot outdoor run. I sprinkle their scratch out here, and also pick for them grasses and weeds to toss in. They also get the occasional produce parts or the end pieces of the bread.
I feed a mix of mostly layer pellets (kalmbach) and mix in a little bit of oats, and cracked corn. But it's about 80% layer. I've had the on straight layer before and they occasionally went off feed....so I added some 'spots' of more 'interesting' things to peck at. They also get a little bit of beet pulp every couple days. Though I haven't fed it for the last week or two. no change.
They're all fat happy birds from what I can tell. I also worm them with ivermectin every 6 months. The coops are regularly dusted with DE. And and the birds are externally treated for parasites every 6 months as well. I can't find a single mite or flea on anyone. In fact they just finished their molt about 2-3 weeks ago and every looks like a chicken supermodel.
About 6-8 weeks ago egg production hit a wall. and within a week had completely stopped. Not a single egg from a single bird.
So i've ruled out molting since they ALL completely quit weeks before and after their molt. You'd think with a flock this big I'd get an egg here or there at least. but NOTHING.
Also ruled out daylight issues since they have so much outdoor time and the coop is so open with the screen doors as well. And since this problem started long before the daylight really started to wane, I dont really think its the issue. It gets dark here at 730. Thats still plenty of light for the occasional egg isn't it?
Parasites aren't the issue.
No one is broody.
Everyone is well fed.
Also i'm n the process of moving. So about 2 weeks ago, half the flock was moved to a friend's barn down the street. They are now in a large rubber matted horse stall. Still getting plenty of light and food. Still perfectly healthy. I got one egg the day after I moved them. And nothing since. I've been slowly moving the birds over in groups each weekend. I no onl have about 5 hens left to move.
No eggs from each side.
Ok so now the big question...what could possibly be the problem? And yes, I think there's a problem. Since my seemingly perfectly healthy birds are not doing what perfectly healthy birds do. And chicken feed is just too expensive to simply be feeding the birds.
