Help! My chickens won't lay

[rowemc]

I have a mixed flock. 3 were bought in 2008 2 were bought last year 4 were bought this spring and just starting to lay. In early May the whole team started laying well, apx 7 a day (I don't expect much from the older ones) Then all of a sudden is dropped to 2 day and stayed that way. Last week some friends of our gave us 7 of their chickens that they bought last year 2011. Before giving them to us they were laying 7 a day. When we first took them on they did great and we pulled in about 9 eggs a day. But only lasted a few days and now we are back down to 2 a day. 16 chickens and only 2 eggs a day....what am I doing wrong?!?!?!?!

I'm worried it's my laying box. It's a single box about 36 inches long and 12 inches deep. It's not separated into 3 distinct boxes by walls, because I've never had to worry about it before. When I first used the box three years ago I had 7 layers and they all laid in it no problem. Could it be the fact that I mixed the flock? Are they distressed? I also have 2 goats that both birthed twins but I have them separated out. Could that be bothering them. I also have two chickens that seem broody. Does that affect production? And yes I monitor the entire yard to see if they are laying other places.

Help I'm tired of spending a fortune on feed and no eggs!!!!

 

[Featherland]

It could be any number of reasons.
They may be stressed from heat. Where are you located?
Giving them a higher protein feed in the hot months could help.
They may be stressed from adjusting to new flock members and having their pecking order messed up.
It could take approximately 6 weeks or even longer for some to adjust.
How long have you had the new ones?
Nesting boxes may be an issue. You could try dividers and adding more nesting boxes.
That doesn't seem like much for the number of chickens you have.
Do you have enough feeders that they all can eat at the same time?
Are they getting enough water?
Chickens tend to lay best in their first year, especially high production hens.
What breeds do you have?

 

[groundpecker]

There are many reasons why your birds could not be laying as usual.. Here are a few.

Improper diet
sickness/disease
Stress
Weather: too hot/too cold, storms scared them...ect.
moulting
Going broody
and a few others i probably missed.

I suggest making sure they are getting a good laying ration food and fresh water.
They should return to laying in a couple days to a few weeks.

 

[rowemc]

I'm thinking my feeding may be off. I feed a 16% protein lay mesh. I spread about 4 scoop fulls on the ground because I was told i'ts better for them to scratch for the food to pick up other minerals that are good for the eggs. i also mix in oyster shell. I keep their water full at all times. I live in UT and we have been having a hot summer. High 90's. I'm thinking about thinning out the flock by getting rid of the older ones and the two that are broody. The broody ones won't give up the boxes ever!

How much do you suggest feeding?

 

[Mrs. K]

Is it possible that they are laying somewhere else? When I all of a sudden, have a drop in production, they almost always have a hidden nest.

Sometimes, when you are sure they could not, it is hidden in almost plain site. Go down in the morning and listen for the egg song. Do you let them out to free range, cause it could be out in the yard.

MrsK