Egg Problems

[allergymama]

Flock of 15. 2 are almost 4 years old, 1 is 3 years old, 3 are almost 2 years old, 3 are 1 year old, the remainder are 7 months old. We have not changed our food, which is an organic layer blend made by a local farm. Everyone is acting totally normal, with the exception of the egg thing.

About 6 weeks ago, all of a sudden we started getting the occasional "tiny" egg...about the size of a small chicken egg. Then we started getting a couple every day. Then we were only getting one normal size egg. Now, they have almost stopped laying. I am getting MAYBE one egg per day! During the "tiny" egg phase, I did start giving them electrolytes in their water to see if it would help.

As you can see by my name, we are doing this because it is a significant food source for my children and I am freaking out a little. We have never had them stop laying before January.

 

[chickens really]

Hmmm...
The tiny eggs could be from the new layers and the older birds might be stopping earlier till spring...

 

[allergymama]

It seems like the 18 month olds should be in their prime laying time, though...right? And, we had unseasonably warm weather several weeks ago when they quit. Basically, everyone only laid for 6 months of the year. :-(

 

[chickens really]

18 months old they should start moulting ...They don't lay during that period...

 

[apricotvalleywf]

Age won't really matter except for the amount of production. I would guess in your situation the issue is with one or more of the following: the lighting, heating, living quarters and/or their diet. If one of those things isn't quite right they won't lay. If they are exposed to the seasons and not supplemented with light, then they will moult. If you are experiencing a large amount of feathers on the ground then I would say they are in a moult.

If you are raising ducks for their eggs due to allergies then I would definitely suggest a lighting/heat schedule to encourage as many eggs as possible. 14-16 hours will be enough for lighting.

I am also guessing that the smaller eggs were the birds winding down prior to a moult.

Best of luck