Help! My 1.5 year old hens aren't laying!

[DelBlueHen]

My six girls were averaging 2-3 eggs a day over the winter. We had a rough winter and I used a heat lamp in the coop on really cold nights. Spring has now sprung here in Delaware, and they stepped up production to 3-4 eggs for a week or so (about 2 weeks ago). For the past week, I've only had 1 or 2 eggs a day. About a week ago, one of my three Black Stars squirted out an egg on the driveway then ran into the coop to sit on a nest. They hadn't been eating their layer pellets, so I took advice I found here to mix crumbles with water and cut down on scratch grains and veggie/fruit treats. I did a search for my problem but didn't find an answer to my exact situation. They do not appear ill in any way.

Thanks,

Del

 

[countrygirl345]

Maybe they are keeping nests outside the coop. Lock them in for a couple days to see if they are actually laying or not.

 

[DelBlueHen]

Maybe they are keeping nests outside the coop. Lock them in for a couple days to see if they are actually laying or not.

Sorry about the delay in answering. My girls are kept in a large run and a coop with nest boxes. I take them out every day and monitor them. The slowdown in laying is still in effect. I have verified 2 girls who are laying. I get 10/11 eggs a week now. My friend with a Master's in Ag says they look fine (and they do, except for the 2 lowest in the pecking order: they have areas where the feathers have been picked out). Am going to get in touch with local ag department. Thanks for replying!