HELP!!!!!

[Orpie]

Ok so I've got 12 birds. 6 RIR, 4 Buff Orpingtons, a Black Australop, and a Barred Rock. The Australop & Barred Rock are of laying age while the others are maturing now, but haven't began laying as of yet.

Now that being said... For about the last week the 2 that are laying have just stopped. No changes to their lives with the exception of me changing the height of the roosts and relocating the nest box due to the younger hens roosting and pooping on it. They layed 2 legs after this... And then nothing since.

That being said I have also noticed an increasing amout of feathers in the run area. They are very healthy, at least they appear that way. I'm a first time chicken owner and am learning as I go.

So... What's going on???

Oh... BTW... The 2 that are laying are about 3 year old. Also I live in South Georgia and yawl obviously know the date... So....

HELP!!!

 

[HugHess]

Could your birds be molting, which is known to slow or halt egg production, and could your rearrangement of the coop boxes have possibly added any modicum of stress to the already stressful state of molting?
If you use the Advance search tool bar and pull up similar threads and posts your answer should coincide with what you might see the veterans post as they always have knowledgeable advice.
I am sure you will find your answer here. I am new here so take what I say with a grain of salt...I'd hope it's them molting....

 

[aart]

Molting, why you're seeing their feathers around......shortening of days.....older hens...possible stress from nest move.
It all adds up to no eggs, all perfectly natural given there's no sign of any illness.

You could use supplemental light to keep them laying over the winter....or hope the pullets start laying soon.

 

[Orpie]

Molting, why you're seeing their feathers around......shortening of days.....older hens...possible stress from nest move.
It all adds up to no eggs, all perfectly natural given there's no sign of any illness.

You could use supplemental light to keep them laying over the winter....or hope the pullets start laying soon.

 

[Orpie]

Molting, why you're seeing their feathers around......shortening of days.....older hens...possible stress from nest move.
It all adds up to no eggs, all perfectly natural given there's no sign of any illness.

You could use supplemental light to keep them laying over the winter....or hope the pullets start laying soon.

Would moving the nest box really cause so much stress.

 

[lazy gardener]

I don't think even the chicken can answer that question!!! Thankfully, you have some youngsters coming along. If you give them light, you'll soon have eggs coming out your ears.

 

[aart]

Quote: Depends on the chicken, why I said 'possible'....some it would throw for a loop, others it wouldn't matter a lick.
I think your real problem is older hens, shortening days and molting.

One thing I've learned in a year of chicken keeping....is to expect the unexpected, oh, and another lesson in patience for what you can't really control.
I used supplemental light last winter on my starter flock of mature hens, got eggs all winter but a few stopped laying and molted this summer.

 

[Orpie]

Depends on the chicken, why I said 'possible'....some it would throw for a loop, others it wouldn't matter a lick.
I think your real problem is older hens, shortening days and molting.

One thing I've learned in a year of chicken keeping....is to expect the unexpected, oh, and another lesson in patience for what you can't really control.
I used supplemental light last winter on my starter flock of mature hens, got eggs all winter but a few stopped laying and molted this summer.

Ok... Thank you for your help. I was really concerned about what is going on. Someone once told me that having chickens is much harder on the chicken keeper than the chicken. I do believe they were quite correct!!!

 

[aart]

Quote: There's alot to learn, curve can be steep.
Some (alot of) folks think that you get you some chickens and then nonstop eggs foreever......not so.