Hens have completely stopped laying

[Eclipse390]

Title says it all...
I have 11 chickens, 5 ducks.
4 were bought as laying hens & lay they did! Until the end of last week. Then they stopped completely. 5 are pullets hatched in March, unsure if they even started laying. 2 are Roos.
They are free ranged all day, have a 100 sq. ft. Coop to go into at night. They are fed purina laying pellets, with scratch as snacks throughout the day. Their combs are bright red, the Roos are mating the females as usual. The ducks never started laying either. I have 3 hens - one pure campbell and two swedish/Campbell crosses.

Any ideas what could be wrong? I was getting 3 or so eggs a day, and now nothing.

 

[aart]

How long have you had them?

They could have found a better place to lay out in the range area......lock them up for a few days to habituate them to laying in the coop nests.

 

[Eclipse390]

I've Had the pullets since day old chicks. The hen I've had for about two months. I actually got one egg from one of the hens, but that's the first in a week.

 

[aart]

I've Had the pullets since day old chicks. The hen I've had for about two months. I actually got one egg from one of the hens, but that's the first in a week.

Might want to cut back on the scratch as it is diluting the minimal protein and other nutrients in the layer feed.
....and the free range thing:


Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop for 2-3 days can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. They can be confined to coop 24/7 for a few days to a week, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it.

 

[Eclipse390]

They get 2 handfuls of scratch a day among 11 chickens, I didn't think it was too much.
And I left them in the coop today due to weather, and they picked one of my brahmas bloody. I guess I'll just settle for no eggs, because keeping them cooped isn't working unless I want a dead chicken.

 

[aart]

They get 2 handfuls of scratch a day among 11 chickens, I didn't think it was too much.
And I left them in the coop today due to weather, and they picked one of my brahmas bloody. I guess I'll just settle for no eggs, because keeping them cooped isn't working unless I want a dead chicken.

Nope scratch ratio sounds ok.
Do they have plenty of room in the coop?
It won't get better in winter, when they may stay in the coop for days, not would be a good time to test that and expand if necessary.

 

[Eclipse390]

Nope scratch ratio sounds ok.
Do they have plenty of room in the coop?
It won't get better in winter, when they may stay in the coop for days, not would be a good time to test that and expand if necessary.

I thought they did, it's 100 sq. ft. I'm not sure f it's my roos that are beating on them or another hen. My leghorn I know beats the tar out f my new Hampshire.

 

[Eclipse390]

So I kept them locked uplease for 4 days, not allowed out at all. I did let the roosters out though. I got 2-3 eggs a day. Today I collected 4 eggs, then let them out (about 1 pm). Should I just let then out later? Will this teach them to lay in the coop?

 

[junebuggena]

So I kept them locked uplease for 4 days, not allowed out at all. I did let the roosters out though. I got 2-3 eggs a day. Today I collected 4 eggs, then let them out (about 1 pm). Should I just let then out later? Will this teach them to lay in the coop?

Sounds like keeping them in a bit longer is working. They do need to be 'trained' to lay in the coop/nest boxes. Once most of them are laying were you want the to, the rest should follow along.