Hens Almost Stopped Laying

[303hunter]

I have 7 sex links that have gone from 5-6 eggs daily, to 2. This has been happening for 4-5 weeks. I've given them oyster shell, and table scraps. I have 4 younger barred rocks that are laying 2-3 daily. What am I missing?

 

[N F C]

Are they molting? They won't lay while that is going on. The shorter hours of daylight can cause egg laying to slow down too.

 

[303hunter]

No not moulting, and weather has been fairly mild.

 

[junebuggena]

No not moulting, and weather has been fairly mild.

It's not weather that slows down production at this time of year, it's the shorter days. They need about 14 hours of daylight to maintain production. As the days get shorter, production slows. They will start again once the days start getting longer, which won't be for another 4 weeks or so.

 

[303hunter]

Thanks, that sounds good.