Egg Production??

[SconnieChicks]

I have 7 hens and 1 rooster right now and we have had chickens for a year or so. I was getting average of 6 eggs per day and all of the sudden I am getting 1 or none daily. This happened once before during the summer but I found they had taken to laying out of the coop. I have searched all over and have not found an egg anywhere. Would anything cause them to all shut down laying at once??

 

[fluffychicken24]

How old were they when you got them? Chickens stop laying once they reach a certain age.

 

[SconnieChicks]

5 out of 7 are less than a year old, so age should not be a factor.

 

[fluffychicken24]

Well, it could be that they are molting. Do they look scrawny, and are they losing feathers? Also, what color are their combs and wattles? Are they paler than usual?

 

[Happy Chooks]

Does it look like a pillow exploded in their yard? Shorter daylight hours bring egg production down, molting usually stops laying completely.

 

[SconnieChicks]

they do not look to be moulting, they all free range all day and they go to the coop at night, I do have a light in the coop for longer light