HELP!!!! My hens quit laying 2 months ago

[Elsi]

We have approx 100 hens, Rhode Island Reds, Production reds, and some white leghorn. We started with 30 and then added about 70 more to our flock back in March, ages between 8 months and 18 months, they were laying up to 50 eggs a day during spring but end of June they all quit laying, I mean zero eggs since then.
We feed them layer crumbles and scratch on a daily basis, also occasional veggies. We give them layer boost, and vitamins and electrolytes. They get plenty of fresh water every day. We have 4 10x10 coops where they sleep, each coop is equipped with a 12 hole nesting box, they free range with our goats and great pyrs during the day. They seem happy and healthy, and have all their feathers now. We have had them stop laying for a week or 2, or decrease production to a minimum before, but never completely stop laying. Any ideas what it could be? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[feedman77]

Since ranging are they hiding eggs in a outside best?

I have 50 hens of various breeds and in the last month (july) they have almost all started to molt. Went from 40 eggs a day to 5. Some of those eggs are from pullets I hatched in Jan and deb.

 

[feedman77]

Missed the part about all having feathers now. Some may start to lay again others may not lay again til spring. If they molted depends on how hard the molt was on their system.

 

[Elsi]

Since ranging are they hiding eggs in a outside best?

I have 50 hens of various breeds and in the last month (july) they have almost all started to molt. Went from 40 eggs a day to 5. Some of those eggs are from pullets I hatched in Jan and deb.

We haven't seen any eggs, in the coops or out since June. The weird thing is that our pullets that had started laying this spring also quit laying.

 

[feedman77]

Has there been any major stressors.
Adding new birds ?
Coop renovations?
Animal attacks?
Extreme heat?

These could effect production?

 

[junebuggena]

Might be that they aren't getting enough protein with scratch and forage in addition to feed. Layer pellets have just barely enough protein for egg production, if it's the sole ration. Too many extras will lower the overall protein intake to the point where they just can't produce an egg. Remember that eggs whites are 90% protein, and it has to come from somewhere. Eliminate extras and confine them, just to be sure they aren't hiding eggs somewhere.

 

[Elsi]

Has there been any major stressors.
Adding new birds ?
Coop renovations?
Animal attacks?
Extreme heat?

These could effect production?

We have found a couple dead chicken lately, they are in a pretty secured area so I'm suspecting one of my pyrs, and it has been hot but not as hot as previous years.
Any of these major stressors shouldn't affect them for months, right?

 

[Elsi]

Might be that they aren't getting enough protein with scratch and forage in addition to feed. Layer pellets have just barely enough protein for egg production, if it's the sole ration. Too many extras will lower the overall protein intake to the point where they just can't produce an egg. Remember that eggs whites are 90% protein, and it has to come from somewhere. Eliminate extras and confine them, just to be sure they aren't hiding eggs somewhere.

So you suggest not letting them free range for a while and feed them only layer pellets? I will have to try this.

 

[Master Hatcher]

We have approx 100 hens, Rhode Island Reds, Production reds, and some white leghorn. We started with 30 and then added about 70 more to our flock back in March, ages between 8 months and 18 months, they were laying up to 50 eggs a day during spring but end of June they all quit laying, I mean zero eggs since then.
We feed them layer crumbles and scratch on a daily basis, also occasional veggies. We give them layer boost, and vitamins and electrolytes. They get plenty of fresh water every day. We have 4 10x10 coops where they sleep, each coop is equipped with a 12 hole nesting box, they free range with our goats and great pyrs during the day. They seem happy and healthy, and have all their feathers now. We have had them stop laying for a week or 2, or decrease production to a minimum before, but never completely stop laying. Any ideas what it could be? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I always keep Laying Mash available for my Layers along with oyster shell it seems to have fixed any problems of mine stopping even through the winter .. of course i start adding light in the evenings to make the days longer for them when the days start shortening ! Good Luck !

 

[junebuggena]

So you suggest not letting them free range for a while and feed them only layer pellets? I will have to try this.

It's either keep them confined to ensure they are getting a balanced diet and not hiding any eggs, or switch them to a higher protein diet to compensate for any low protein forage.