Everyone stopped laying-no signs of molt that I can tell

[CindyMichelle3]

I have 4 standard hens (Black Sex Link, White Leghorn, Jersey Giant and Cali Grey) and 3 Silkies. All of my Standard hens stopped laying this week. Not a single egg. I was still getting eggs from my silkies until two of them went broody (one about 2 weeks ago, one three days ago).

Does anyone have any ideas of why my standard hens would have stopped laying. They can see each other in the coop but do not have access to each other or each others' nest boxes. Plenty of food and water. It rained here for several days so they were cooped up, but they've been out every day the past 3 days to range as well. Their combs are light, but a bit darker today than they were yesterday.

Can you tell me some possible reasons why they quit, or what to look for to find out why?

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Hmmm. The silkies haven't encouraged the others to brood, have they? Do they have calcium? It might be the rain. I can't really think of anything else!

 

[CindyMichelle3]

No, as far as I can tell the girls have no desire to visit their boxes. I put out oyster shell yesterday, and they were only moderately interested. I'll add some again today.

I think I'll also clean out the coop and see if that helps.

 

[CindyMichelle3]

Well I was wrong! It's definitely a molt! I opened the coop today and it looked like a chicken exploded... guess I'll wait to clean out the coop!