Hens not laying

[Namrag]

My ladies are 2 years old and have stopped laying. A few months ago the flock was attacked by red tailed hawks and we lost our rooster. We then re did their run so its completely enclosed eliminating that threat but they haven't started to lay again. My 4 ladies are well fed and watered, have a covered pasture, their own veggie garden, and are cleared by the vet. So I assume it's stress? Do I need to give them time or replace my roo? To be honest, my neighbor threatened our Class A Serama roo for being too loud (he's the neighborhood bully) and while I would never cull or rehome him, I thought maybe it's best not to replace him. But then there's the egg issue ...

Thoughts, suggestions are greatly appreciated.

 

[igorsMistress]

I'm sorry you lost your roo, that can certainly take a toll on the rest of the flock.

You said cleared by a vet, but clear for what specifically? Did you have a fecal float test for worms? Have you checked for mites/lice? How about rodents getting into the coop?

 

[sourland]

If they laid all through the winter, it is not at all unusual for them to be taking a break in the laying cycle. It may be related to the stress of the attack and the environmental changes, but they will very likely molt and return to laying although, at a reduced rate. What breed are your hens - some high production varieties are virtually burned out by 2 years of age.

 

[Namrag]

I'm sorry you lost your roo, that can certainly take a toll on the rest of the flock.

You said cleared by a vet, but clear for what specifically? Did you have a fecal float test for worms? Have you checked for mites/lice? How about rodents getting into the coop?

Checked for worms, mites, and lice. We did have a tiny but stinky mouse that has been dispatched by the chicken's guard-cat. Unfortunately it hasn't been warm enough in Southern NH to leave the ladies in the pasture and the coop door open 24/7 but the coop is cleaned daily.

 

[Ebony Rose]

A rooster is not needed for chickens to lay eggs; they ovulate every 26 hours when they're laying. When was their last molt, have they lost plumage? How much light are they getting daily as they need 14-15 hours (at least) daily to lay. If you're close to that but not quite, you might consider supplementing light for the needed number of hours at bedtime. At 2+ years old, you would normally expect about half of the normal number of eggs for standard breeds, and for high-production breeds you'd expect a sharp drop off on eggs and increase in reproductive problems (sad but true). That said, it does sound like they've suffered significant loss and stress over these past months. They were attacked. They lost their beloved husband. Their home was ransacked (by you) and nothing looks or feels the same. The stress may have reduced their natural immunity to such things as worms and coccidiosis, so be on the look out for trouble there. Treating for worms will NOT hurt your chickens, even if they don't have worm, but if you have a vet that's willing to do a 'float test' on your chicken feces that you take in to them, it's always better. Check your girls for external parasites too, like lice and mites. Easy to do if you put a white towel or gloves over your hands and ruffle the underside of their tail feathers by the vent and in their armpits (wing pits?)... then examine your "gloves" to see if any of that dirt is moving. That wild bird that attacked them may have brought in some disease from the outside... so you're looking for signs of such things.

 

[Namrag]

If they laid all through the winter, it is not at all unusual for them to be taking a break in the laying cycle. It may be related to the stress of the attack and the environmental changes, but they will very likely molt and return to laying although, at a reduced rate. What breed are your hens - some high production varieties are virtually burned out by 2 years of age.

They did lay through the winter at a reduced rate. I have a a speckled Sussex, Salmon EE, a Brahma, and a Faverolle. The Sussex was raised by hand, the others rescued as young birds. All were laying regularly until the hawk attack.

 

[sourland]

Given the breeds represented, I would expect them to restart laying after they molt.

 

[Namrag]

A rooster is not needed for chickens to lay eggs; they ovulate every 26 hours when they're laying. When was their last molt, have they lost plumage? How much light are they getting daily as they need 14-15 hours (at least) daily to lay. If you're close to that but not quite, you might consider supplementing light for the needed number of hours at bedtime. At 2+ years old, you would normally expect about half of the normal number of eggs for standard breeds, and for high-production breeds you'd expect a sharp drop off on eggs and increase in reproductive problems (sad but true). That said, it does sound like they've suffered significant loss and stress over these past months. They were attacked. They lost their beloved husband. Their home was ransacked (by you) and nothing looks or feels the same. The stress may have reduced their natural immunity to such things as worms and coccidiosis, so be on the look out for trouble there. Treating for worms will NOT hurt your chickens, even if they don't have worm, but if you have a vet that's willing to do a 'float test' on your chicken feces that you take in to them, it's always better. Check your girls for external parasites too, like lice and mites. Easy to do if you put a white towel or gloves over your hands and ruffle the underside of their tail feathers by the vent and in their armpits (wing pits?)... then examine your "gloves" to see if any of that dirt is moving. That wild bird that attacked them may have brought in some disease from the outside... so you're looking for signs of such things.

I do use supplemental light because we NEVER get enough in Southern NH. The last molt was early fall 2018, then reduced laying during the winter, but it had picked back up. We did ransack their home; we actually redid the entire run making it a secure pasture and it took some time for them to go more than a few yards; but for the past 3 weeks they've been out in the pasture at 5:30am (which they used to do with the roo) and are "free ranging" (so they think) the entire area. The vet checked for lice and mites, but I'll do another inspection. Thanks so much!

 

[Namrag]

Given the breeds represented, I would expect them to restart laying after they molt.

Thank you for the encouragement. I certainly hope so. If not, we will rebuild and let them live in comfort since they are our feather-babies.

 

[igorsMistress]

@Namrag you've done all the right things then, maybe after things settle down a bit they'll start up again. I know my flock was off for some time when they lost the boss. Even the roo was down and didn't crow for some time. I hope everyone is fine and it works out well for you all.