Hens not laying!

[mamachick]

I have about 50 layers that are approximately 10 months old. They were laying pretty well during the winter with proper lighting and heat, but for the past several weeks their laying became sparatic. We never knew from one day to the next what to expect. And now just over the past week they are pretty much laying nothing at all! They’re eating well, plenty of water and oyster shells ... I’ve been raising chickens for 13 years and have not come across this before. The only real possible factor that comes to mind is that we introduced a rooster into the flock (he’s the only male) a few weeks back. But he integrated quite well and the hens did continue laying until this week. I’m at a loss! (No pun intended )

 

[SoCha]

I have about 50 layers that are approximately 10 months old. They were laying pretty well during the winter with proper lighting and heat, but for the past several weeks their laying became sparatic. We never knew from one day to the next what to expect. And now just over the past week they are pretty much laying nothing at all! They’re eating well, plenty of water and oyster shells ... I’ve been raising chickens for 13 years and have not come across this before. The only real possible factor that comes to mind is that we introduced a rooster into the flock (he’s the only male) a few weeks back. But he integrated quite well and the hens did continue laying until this week. I’m at a loss! (No pun intended )

Hi, im not sure how I can help, but maybe they’re stressed? Of the change of temperatures is hard for them? Ive had hens stop laying for a couple months because of the temperature and it wasnt even drastic, it got maybe 10 degrees colder, not more. I would just wait it out or maybe take the roo out for a couple of days to see if anything changes. If they are stressed they might be plucking their feathers out, check for that or any abnormal behaviour. Hope this helped!

 

[aart]

Do you free range?
New boy may be showing them to lay elsewhere.
Have you always had that many birds?

 

[chkva]

The change in weather always messes with laying for mine. Sometimes they start laying in another location especially if they free range. The addition of the rooster may have thrown off something in the group, maybe he is trying to do his business and they are not interested. There's so many factors of why they can stop laying, but hopefully they'll start back up or the solution will be figured out. Good luck with your flock!