Egg production has severly dropped

[feathered fannies farm]

I have 25 barred rocks that I purchased Aug. 3 of 2009. They started laying in Jan. this year. After the wind egg chapter all the gals were laying well. Most days I was getting 20-23 eggs a day from 24 hens. In the last 3 weeks this has been dropping fast. The 1st week of less production I was getting 16-18 eggs a day, the 2nd week it went to 12-14 eggs a day and this week I'm lucky if I get 8 eggs a day. I have searched the forum articles but all I could find pertained to egg production slowing because the days were starting to get shorter, of which I understand that. But the days are getting longer and I'm getting less eggs. Cannot find any egg eaters in the bunch. No shells or yolks on their beaks. I'm a stay at home farm gal so I collect eggs several times a day. We have not finished their outside area yet, so I don't suspect worms. They are on Layena of which they never run out of during the day. They have free choice of grit and oyster shell at all times.There is nowhere they can go to secretly lay eggs for setting.I change their water twice a day. Can find no mites,lice or fleas. I have seen a couple mice at the chicken house but no rats. No way for dogs to get in and the snakes are just now starting to move around in our area. UGH!!!!. But I haven't seen any at the chicken house yet. Its not time for them to molt. They are only around 8 months old. Does anyone have an idea of whats going on or what I can try to raise egg production.??
TIA
Tammy

 

[faykokoWV]

I think any change in weather throws them off too.

you can try some manna pro. Its used as a boost for show birds and game birds i think.

 

[MomtoSyd&Emma]

Are you sure that it isnt possible that your hens are starting to molt? Mine slow down right before they actually start to molt and stop all together while molting! Mine molted between 8-10 months of age!!

 

[vicki2x2]

So they have no outside run and they don't free range, is that right? They are just in their coop? How big is the coop? Some egg eaters are pretty good, leaving no evidence, but it seems you would catch them at some point. Do you ever catch them picking on each other? Does your coop have windows? Hmmm, still thinking..............

 

[Highlander]

Molting is a possibility, but I would check again very carefully for mites. Are you finding any eggs on the floor of the coop, or somewhere that is not in the nest boxes? Any rough looking or broken feathers?