Help...whats up in drop in egg production?????

[amcconnell]

Let me start off by giving a brief account of the last couple of weeks. I have 14 layer hens (9 – 2yr olds and 5 – 4yr olds) that would average about 8 to 10 eggs per day. About a month ago the temps here broke records at 107 degrees and stayed above 100 for a week so with such hot weather I know that egg production would drop. Temps went back into the upper 80s and low 90s lately and egg production picked back up but only to around 5 eggs per day. Then I found 5 eggs broken into and the insides eaten out but the shells left intact about a week and a half ago. Either I have an egg eater or a rodent or something. I do have a hen with a chick off in a separate hen house and they had mites so I treated the whole flock and cleaned out both hen houses and sprayed the houses down and dusted with DE and also put it in their dust box. I’m only getting about 3 eggs per day now and today only 1 egg. I feed them some scratch in the morn with layer pellets also and fresh water every day. They do free range and I found one spot that they like to lay eggs. Thinking that maybe they were laying off somewhere else I kept them in the coup for about 2 days and still only 3 eggs. I don’t know if my egg production drop is due to temps still in the upper 80s or low 90s or the mites and since I just treated them this weekend I will have to wait for an increase in production, or maybe an egg eater (but I’ve looked for signs and I’m not finding any more broken eggs or egg residue in boxes) or possibly something wrong with my hens (but by all appearances they seem healthy and not sickly at all). Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Marty1876]

Morning Amcconnell, I can see, as you've stated some things that maybe going on here. I'll offer what suggestions I have.

First, I'd still suspect egg attackers. Mark some eggs, and put them back in the nests, and see if any disappear. That'll tell you if your under attack.
Next, heat will set them off for a bit, but they usually pick back up. I note that several of your flock are four years old, and there is usually a dramatic decline in eggs after 3 years for sure. They might just be puttering out on you. Also, is it time for a moult? They don't late then very much if at all. That takes a few weeks. Finally, if you keep your hens in until mid afternoon (4 pm or so) most hens will have laid by then, and you can still let them go get excercise and chase a few bugs.

Good luck.

 

[amcconnell]

I'll try marking some eggs and see what happens and also look into the other suggestions.... thanks for the advice!