help me troubleshoot why my hens stopped laying!

[Ol Grey Mare]

tried the dummy egg idea with no luck

The use of "dummy eggs" is not in stimulating production - it is used to direct the place of laying, it would help you get them to lay in the nests boxes, for example, if they were producing eggs - but it will not prompt their bodies to produce.

 

[Featherfamily]

I have the same problem I have six two and a half year old buffs and black stars, last summer I would get six eggs a day, and now I'm getting one or two... I looked for secret nests but couldn't find any. None seem to be molting and they are all healthy except for one that is possibly being pecked (I'm pretty sure it's not molting). Any ideas?

 

[gerohan]

I too have that same problem,not all my chickens are laying,some people i'v talked to say its the heat but they have water everywhere,food,clean nests,they look real healthy but still not many eggs???

 

[gerohan]

you there any luck with the eggs?

 

[RisingSpring]

The use of "dummy eggs" is not in stimulating production - it is used to direct the place of laying, it would help you get them to lay in the nests boxes, for example, if they were producing eggs - but it will not prompt their bodies to produce.

yes i understand that. i tried dummy eggs thinking they may be laying elsewhere, but i am almost 100% certain that is not the case.

 

[RisingSpring]

well we killed 2 chickens today that we had planned to eat. when plucking them i found lice

i had looked at some of my hens before and never seen any.

i am googling and not finding evidence that this is what would be causing them not to lay. they do not seem to be "infested" and are otherwise very healthy. i am already giving them DE and placing some in dusting areas - i think i am going to buy some sevin dust too.

 

[welasharon]

Are you saying that your chickens have not laid any eggs since before spring?

 

[RisingSpring]

Are you saying that your chickens have not laid any eggs since before spring?

yup, around march most of them stopped and i started getting only 2-3 a day... last summer the almost exact same group of hens were giving me over a dozen a day at least.

 

[welasharon]

I have 35 hens and get right now around 6 to 8 eggs. It has been very hot in florida and they have also molted. There are feathers laying everywhere. I also have several broody hens. It is worse this year than ever but it is also much hotter this summer. You may also have a combination of issues but there isn't much you can do but wait it out.

 

[RisingSpring]

I have 35 hens and get right now around 6 to 8 eggs. It has been very hot in florida and they have also molted. There are feathers laying everywhere. I also have several broody hens. It is worse this year than ever but it is also much hotter this summer. You may also have a combination of issues but there isn't much you can do but wait it out.

it is somewhat comforting to know i am not the only one experiencing this issue. i never thought the heat would be an issue, i am in northern PA, i didn't think our heat has been bad enough to effect them!