- Jan 10, 2013
- 14
- 0
- 22
Hi all, I have raised chickens for many years, and never had the issue we are having this year. No eggs. They just aren't laying, and I am puzzled and frustrated I can't figure out why! Here's our deal….
We moved cross-country last year from CO to IL. As expected, egg production from our flock of 9 one and two year old hens dropped. Some went into molt in July, and I assumed it was the stress of the move. We still got about 4 eggs a day from those 9 though through about November, and then those 4 a day dropped off to about 1 every 2 days.
In July, we purchased a few more layer chicks to raise. They turned 24 weeks in December, so we hoped they would start laying with the lengthening days. Over the 6 months we raised them, they were gradually integrated with our older girls, all of whom free ranged.
By the end of January, we were only up to about 1-2 eggs a day from a total of 15 hens, roughly 1/3 2 years old (Light Brahma, RIR, Hamburg), 1/3 1 year old (Americana, Buff Orpington, and mixed breeds), and about 1/3 new, ready to lay pullets (Lt. Brahma, Buff Orpington, Black Australorp, and hamburg). We lived in a different state than previously, but they were on the same feed, housed around the same animals for the most part, and had more space to free range. We also added lighting to increase "day" length. I began to suspect they were hiding eggs, so I confined them in a stall in the barn with chicken wire all the way to the ceiling. I watched for egg eaters. Nothing. By mid February we were only up to about 2-3 eggs a day from 15 hens.
Due to the fact we had egg customers waiting, I went out and bought 19 almost laying pullets. They were supposedly 19 and 22 weeks (Buff Orpington and RIR). We gave them a week to settle in, totally separate from our original flock in a whole separate coop and fenced in, to eliminate any integration stresses. About 2 weeks later, we got an egg. That's it. Just 1 egg from the new girls 6 weeks ago and none since.
Fast forward to April. Over the last month, we allowed all the hens to integrate naturally as they ranged in controlled areas. We gave separate coops, and let them determine who wanted to mix with whom. We fenced them all in a controlled area with no hiding spots, to ensure no eggs were being laid elsewhere. We have eliminated egg-eating issues, the weather is plenty warm enough now (hits in the 60's, lows ion the 30/40's), we have tried 2 different types of layer feeds, and they have natural light coming in their coops. I have ALWAYS had about 80-90% production by now, but this year I am getting 0 eggs from the new 19 pullets, who should be between 27 and 30 weeks old (if the seller was correct), and we only get about 50% production from our other 15. And that is an average. In fact, they are all over the map. One day, we'll get 6, the next we might get 12, then 8, then 6, then 11, and so on. No consistency at all. They look healthy, shiny feathers, no picking, no strange scales or bugs that I can see, totally normal looking poops, very active, alert, and the few eggs we stole for the incubator last month had a 75% hatch rate (18 out of 22 hatched and all chicks alive and well 2 weeks later), so they are clearly fertile. I just cannot figure out what is going on!!
Am I missing something? Is anyone else experiencing anything like this? Thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
We moved cross-country last year from CO to IL. As expected, egg production from our flock of 9 one and two year old hens dropped. Some went into molt in July, and I assumed it was the stress of the move. We still got about 4 eggs a day from those 9 though through about November, and then those 4 a day dropped off to about 1 every 2 days.
In July, we purchased a few more layer chicks to raise. They turned 24 weeks in December, so we hoped they would start laying with the lengthening days. Over the 6 months we raised them, they were gradually integrated with our older girls, all of whom free ranged.
By the end of January, we were only up to about 1-2 eggs a day from a total of 15 hens, roughly 1/3 2 years old (Light Brahma, RIR, Hamburg), 1/3 1 year old (Americana, Buff Orpington, and mixed breeds), and about 1/3 new, ready to lay pullets (Lt. Brahma, Buff Orpington, Black Australorp, and hamburg). We lived in a different state than previously, but they were on the same feed, housed around the same animals for the most part, and had more space to free range. We also added lighting to increase "day" length. I began to suspect they were hiding eggs, so I confined them in a stall in the barn with chicken wire all the way to the ceiling. I watched for egg eaters. Nothing. By mid February we were only up to about 2-3 eggs a day from 15 hens.
Due to the fact we had egg customers waiting, I went out and bought 19 almost laying pullets. They were supposedly 19 and 22 weeks (Buff Orpington and RIR). We gave them a week to settle in, totally separate from our original flock in a whole separate coop and fenced in, to eliminate any integration stresses. About 2 weeks later, we got an egg. That's it. Just 1 egg from the new girls 6 weeks ago and none since.
Fast forward to April. Over the last month, we allowed all the hens to integrate naturally as they ranged in controlled areas. We gave separate coops, and let them determine who wanted to mix with whom. We fenced them all in a controlled area with no hiding spots, to ensure no eggs were being laid elsewhere. We have eliminated egg-eating issues, the weather is plenty warm enough now (hits in the 60's, lows ion the 30/40's), we have tried 2 different types of layer feeds, and they have natural light coming in their coops. I have ALWAYS had about 80-90% production by now, but this year I am getting 0 eggs from the new 19 pullets, who should be between 27 and 30 weeks old (if the seller was correct), and we only get about 50% production from our other 15. And that is an average. In fact, they are all over the map. One day, we'll get 6, the next we might get 12, then 8, then 6, then 11, and so on. No consistency at all. They look healthy, shiny feathers, no picking, no strange scales or bugs that I can see, totally normal looking poops, very active, alert, and the few eggs we stole for the incubator last month had a 75% hatch rate (18 out of 22 hatched and all chicks alive and well 2 weeks later), so they are clearly fertile. I just cannot figure out what is going on!!
Am I missing something? Is anyone else experiencing anything like this? Thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
