Hens not laying as much??

[MamaFox78]

I'm not sure what happened! I've got a mixed flock of 14 hens & 1 roo - my laying girls are Brahmas, Buff Orpingtons, Easter Eggers, a Leghorn, RIR, Barred Rock, Silkie and Salmon Faverolle. Gone broody at the moment are one of my Buffies and my bantam Ameraucana, so they're out of the laying loop.

I used to get around 12 eggs a day before my broody girls started setting... suddenly I'm down to 3-6. No idea why, nothing had changed except I built the broody box and whitewashed the coop... could the disturbance in their coop cause them to stop laying as much? I finished over a week ago, so I'm not sure that's it.

 

[nuthatched]

It's hot. Summer is the time for laying breaks and molting.

 

[aart]

I used to get around 12 eggs a day before my broody girls started setting... suddenly I'm down to 3-6. No idea why, nothing had changed except I built the broody box and whitewashed the coop... could the disturbance in their coop cause them to stop laying as much? I finished over a week ago, so I'm not sure that's it.

The changes could be the cause, could be hot temps, could just be a normal slow down after the spring surge. I assume the broodies are not taking up the regular nests?
How old are these birds?
Do they free range?

 

[MamaFox78]

The changes could be the cause, could be hot temps, could just be a normal slow down after the spring surge. I assume the broodies are not taking up the regular nests?
How old are these birds?
Do they free range?

Hmm might be just a slow down... most of the girls are 1 year old, 4 of them are older (part of a rescue flock, unsure of age). We really haven't had much heat, only a couple days we've gotten up to 80. It's been unusually stormy this spring/ summer in the Rockies. ⛈

The broodies are also 1 year olds, and they're in their own enclosure now. I think it's a pretty darn nice setup, they seemed happy to have their own space when I moved them.

I usually let the rest of the flock free range unless we're not around to chase off coyotes, in which case they're safely in the coop & yard.

They've been on Scratch & Peck organic layer feed for quite a while, and get kitchen veggie scraps or sometimes a little organic scratch for treats. The eggs I've been getting seem perfectly healthy and nice, I just don't know why they've slowed down so much!

Edit: pics to show my setup

 

[aart]

I usually let the rest of the flock free range unless we're not around to chase off coyotes, in which case they're safely in the coop & yard.

I would confine them to the coop and yard(enclosed run ...or?) for a week or so.

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/run for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.

 

[MamaFox78]

I would confine them to the coop and yard(enclosed run ...or?) for a week or so.

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/run for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.

Yes, I've been keeping them in the coop/run more lately and it's been helping... but still only got 6 eggs yesterday. They had always been good about laying in the nesting boxes even while free ranging... except for Taco, who likes to lay in weird places. I found 20+ blue eggs in the coop rafters and another 12+ in the goat barn! But the other girls love their nesting boxes, which is why I'm wondering what the heck happened.