At the moment I have a breeding pen with some silver laced wyandottes in it. There is 1 rooster and 3 hens in the pen. My parents have been collecting eggs for me to incubate and they told me they don't lay very regulary. It sounds like they get eggs from each hen 4-5 times a week or sometimes less. I don't have exact numbers since I am away but just thought I should ask what do you think could be making them only lay a few times then the usual 7 days a week (with the exception of a skipped day or two for the reset of their ovulation cycle). I'm thinking possibly age but my hens are honestly not that old. They are about 2 - 2.5 years old. I had a hen still laying at 5 years. I know they are healthy or I wouldn't be breeding them. My other thought is when I put them in the breeding coop the rooster was some what new and he was never high enough on the rooster totom to have hens. My hens on the other hand were the top dominant hens and only ever bred with my "top dog" rooster J.H.. When I put them togather My SL wyandotte rooster, Capernicus, was very happy to have some ladies to himself. My hens on the other hand readily showed their distaste for the newbie rooster and tried to break out to get to their man J.H.. Maybe my girls are just showing their distaste for being locked up with him! or have just become lazy! haha 
. Those are my only thoughts on the matter. The second being as silly as it maybe but it's an idea non the less. I have a picture of the breeding pen below (Sorry for the low quality of the picture). As you can see they are able to see all the birds they lived with and get lots of fresh air. It is also moved every so often to give them grass. The top is completely covered so they never get rained on but it still lets some light through.
What are your thoughts?
. Those are my only thoughts on the matter. The second being as silly as it maybe but it's an idea non the less. I have a picture of the breeding pen below (Sorry for the low quality of the picture). As you can see they are able to see all the birds they lived with and get lots of fresh air. It is also moved every so often to give them grass. The top is completely covered so they never get rained on but it still lets some light through.What are your thoughts?
