So one of my three 23 week olds started laying about 1 little egg every other day last week... But, now she's stopped completely! I had an old trash bin w/pine shavings as a nest box but it cracked, so I've replaced it with a 5 gallon bucket - could the change make her not want to lay? She only layed once in the trash bin, once on the coop floor, and once in the grass of the backyard... But its been a good couple of days and she hasn't laid anywhere! Is she holding it in? What gives? I have a tarp covering the run of the coop since we've had so many Florida rain showers lately, but I wonder if maybe it's almost too much shade, do they need more light? Agh, I just dunno - I got so excited to FINALLY get eggs by at least one of them, and now.. nothing. What gives?
We're going through the same thing with our 11 hens. One of them laid a small egg on Labor Day in one of the laying boxes, and we haven't seen anything since then. They're 19 weeks and are a mix of RIR and Production Reds. Nothing in the box arena changed (6 laying boxes made from OSB and pine shavings--all with 1 wooden egg in each to help encourage them). I guess we're both playing the waiting game.
Mine did the same thing - laid on labor day, two eggs after that, then nothing for about three days. Then I got an egg yesterday! 18 weeks old, now, so I assume it's just immature plumbing. And they have not been out of the coop, so there's no hidden nests anywhere.
I got 30 rock hens 26 which I got at the same time. Only one is laying. I have got four eggs since wed.
HI! I am a "new hen in your "coop". Just posting my first question. I am from Wisconsin which is now unseasonably cold for this time of year. I have been raising chickens going on 3 yrs now and it has been a very productive uncomplicated hobby until this fall. I now have 17 laying hens when all of a sudden lay only 4-6 eggs a day! I was used to getting 13-14 a day. My hens are 2 and 3yrs old. that isn't too old already is it? Yes they are moutling - and yes I have wormed them (vet said they had roundworm) . I used a natural worm sol of garlic and water as per the internet and droppings are back to looking normal . I have pwded them all down with "seven" dust to assure no mites which would case the low egg production. Is anyone else in this situation. How long would a moult interfere with the egg production. I have never had this happen before. I also am waiting for my new 8 pullets to start laying and they are taking their time getting started. also one of the pullets appear to have a little blood sometimes in her dropping. What does that mean? any advise out there about the low egg production? What is a normal time to expect low egg production due to moulting? thanks chickie
Quote:Moulting will stop a hen laying completely their combs go pale I believe at 3 years most do lay less often, its the time of year for reduced production. I would post about the blood in the emergency section and see if you can get an answer there. Gl and welcome to byc
