Egg Production Drop Since Vacation

[scottewine]

All,

I have 14 hens (8 leghorn, 3 silkies, 1 RIR, 1 Plymouth Rock, 1 sex-link) that I started from day old chicks from Tractor Supply in the spring of 2014. They started laying in August of last year and have been very good layers up until recently. We went on a 3+ week vacation and had neighbors watch them. The neighbors check them every day and gather eggs and make sure there is food and water and fill as needed, but do not let them free range, which I do every other day or so.

Egg production has dropped from 9-12 a day to about 3-4 per day since we got back.

There was a power outage when we were away, and that set the timer back about 3 hours. I have a light in the coop that comes on from 6:00-8:00 in the morning and 6:00-8:00 at night to stimulate egg production in winter, I leave it running all year, but for about a week while we were gone it was staying on until 11:00 at night, could this have thrown off their egg laying?

They are otherwise as healthy looking as ever, they do not peck and they are eating about the same as always.

Any advice is appreciated.

Scott

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Any change whatsoever can make them stop laying temporarily. Change in surroundings, the fact that you weren't there, change in lighting, any change.

 

[scottewine]

So of all of those factors, which do you think had the most influence, the lighting?

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

So of all of those factors, which do you think had the most influence, the lighting?

I don't know. Generally longer day length equals more laying, but there are always other things it could be, too. Worms/mites/lice/someone pecking someone and they are squawking and disturbing the flock, a predator looking at them that they see, or any change in the coop.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/423023/why-arent-my-chickens-laying-here-are-your-answers

Here is a nice thread!

 

[aart]

They are around 18 months old so may be getting ready to molt....or wanting to, but the light will probably deter that.
I have some the same age, just stared ramping the lights back up and the laying is getting a little goofy. I light mine early mornings only.
I did have some other changes recently too that may have had an effect.
I've seen in the last 2 years now that the lights do help in winter but had older hens molt in spring/summer instead.

Not sure if the one week with and extra hour or so of light threw them off or not...it could have.
...or the stress of the changed schedule during vacation might have slowed them down, or a predator event that you and your 'sitter' are unaware of.
If you do range them days they may be laying in range area too when they have the chance?

One thing with chickens, sometimes there's just no succinct answer to all the why's .