EXTREMELY LOW EGG PRODUCTION

[Pampered chicken girl]

I have 11 birds in my flock of those 8 are laying hens (others are 2 not yet POL pullets and a rooster). Foe awhile now I have been getting less and less eggs, to the point where I got 1 egg on Sunday, 1 egg yesterday and NO eggs today. I don't know what's happening and it's very frustrating.
Here's some factors that might be important:
1. Hot weather, we are in FL and it's very hot ( not hotter then all summer though) it is constantly in the mid-upper 90s and humid.
2. One is growing feathers back from a molt which I know stops production
3. Well their is no 3

What am I feeding them?:
They eat purina flock raiser with free choice oyster shell and grit. The only treats are occasionally fresh broccoli and cauliflower. We also freeze watermelon for them.

How old are they?:
We bought them in March as adults, they are supposed to be 1-1½ years in age. We got 2 of them from a different person but ages are said to be the same.

Could they be hiding eggs?:
No, they are kept in a rub and I would notice eggs on the floor.

Breeds:
1 barred rock
1 blue orp
1 black copper Marans
1 EE
1 polish
1 silkie
1 silkie/EE cross ( who used to lay mutable eggs a day)
All have always laid at least every other day unless broody so this is very strange
TIA

 

[SmiYa0126]

I had that happen check them over, make sure their crops are full at night. They may just be taking a break due to heat. Or could be starting to molt...

 

[Pampered chicken girl]

I had that happen check them over, make sure their crops are full at night. They may just be taking a break due to heat. Or could be starting to molt...

Ok. I spend a lot of time with them so they are all healthy and eating well.

 

[Pampered chicken girl]

What would you think if the crops weren't full?

 

[alcarl]

I assumed it was the heat as well (TX here). I went from getting 7-9 down to 1-3 per day.

 

[Pampered chicken girl]

Only thing is it's been this way all summer, why now

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Egg thieves, (like rat, raven, opossum, snake, dog, etc)?

Egg eaters, (there should be more evidence left behind)?

Intestinal parasites?

Approaching molt?

 

[Pampered chicken girl]

Egg thieves, (like rat, raven, opossum, snake, dog, etc)?

Nope my coop and run are completely predator proof.

Egg eaters, (there should be more evidence left behind)?

No

Intestinal parasites?

Maybe

Approaching molt?

Possible but all of them?

 

[Egger4me]

Give them more protein when they are molting. It takes a lot of energy to grow feathers. Hot temperatures almost always stresses them and egg products slows. Any stress will cause a loss in egg production. I will give extra vitamins in times of stress. I put vinegar in their water. Make sure they have shade and a clean coop. Make sure you use something to prevent mites, lice etc. I use a dust in the nesting boxes and in the coop. I will also put dust in there dusting box or in the spot they dust them self in. I spray the coop also, all the cracks, walls and ceilings. We are a no bug’s aloud coops. Same with flys lots of fly paper, changed regularly.
To increase there protein you can give them cooked eggs, hand full of dog food, meal worms. We raise our own meal worms. They are extremely easy to raise. You can give them fresh fruit, we have a couple of fruit trees. They love peaches and apples. Streak bones or any bones, but not chickens bones. Only because I think that is gross.
We also put Cayenne pepper, Garlic and red pepper in there feed. As a preventative For parasites.
These are some of the things that have helped ours. Hope this helps.

 

[Mrs. K]

I am questioning what you mean when you say they are all in a tub? Do you have pictures?

When I have had a sudden drop - it is always a hidden nest. Slowing this time of year...I think molt, and there may not be any eggs for several weeks.

Unless you see parasites, I would not worry about them. I think they were a bit older than they told you when you got them.

Mrs K