Girls Quit Laying

candaceg

Hatching
11 Years
May 30, 2008
2
0
7
Our flock of five just turned two in May and they have all but stopped laying. We used to get 3 -5 eggs per day, but now we are lucky to get 5 eggs in a week. Girls are healthy, not infested with lice, etc., eating balanced feed and drinking, temps are not too hot, not too cold. I know they slow down as they age, but this seems really drastic. Anyone have a similar situation with "older" birds? Is it time to re-flock the henhouse?

Leading to the next tough question...I want eggs and not a flock of pets. Any recommendations for the best way to humanely and quickly dispatch them? I don't think there is a "chicken retirement home" in my area.
 
I have 4 barred rocks who have done the same thing. I noticed a fair amount of feathers laying around and figured they were molting, (although they never lost all of their feathers). After a while they did start laying again, but I have never gotten 4 eggs in one day like I did when they were younger. I have been trying to figure out why they stopped laying for about 3 months now. Molting is the only thing I can come up with. Hope that helps.
 
Don't feel alone, I have 5 hens that laid 25 to 30 eggs a week, for the past three months now I have been getting 5 to 8 eggs a week. I'm still waiting for them to start back up, the only difference is that I introduce new chicks and they slowed with the production, but still it is very frustrating, can't wait till they start back up if ever...
 
Could they be hiding the eggs in a sneaky place, or the weather too hot. Could there be an egg eater???
hu.gif
 
I've a similar problem - down from 4 eggs to one per day from my 4 hens. I noticed two of them actually 'building' a nest in some long grass recently - could they be planning to lay outside for a change?
 

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