Hens not laying

[SophieL72]

We have a flock of 14 heritage layers. They are all approximately 17 mths old now. They laid well through last winter with lights and slowed down in the spring. We have continued to have very low egg production, between 1 and 4 eggs a day on average. Sometimes will get 6-8, but rarely.

They have an 8x10 coop, friendly and kind rooster. Huge run, not free range. Fresh water and food. Our sodium levels are high in our water so we have been hauling water from off property in case that was the culprit.

6 nest boxes. 2 with curtains in case that would help.

Checked for mites and lice. None at all that I can see. A few hens have clear vents, but feces in their feathers below their vents.

Dewormed approx 3 mths ago, no change in production.

Set up wildlife camera, no evidence of outside stressors.

8 of the hens had coccidiosis as chicks and we have wondered if this could affect them long term, but they laid very well their first winter, and this is effecting more than just the ones that had that as chicks!

What are we missing?! They are all acting perfectly normal and content. Another coop on the property is getting 3-5 eggs a day from 6 hens.

 

[ArthurFleck]

We have a flock of 14 heritage layers. They are all approximately 17 mths old now. They laid well through last winter with lights and slowed down in the spring. We have continued to have very low egg production, between 1 and 4 eggs a day on average. Sometimes will get 6-8, but rarely.

They have an 8x10 coop, friendly and kind rooster. Huge run, not free range. Fresh water and food. Our sodium levels are high in our water so we have been hauling water from off property in case that was the culprit.

6 nest boxes. 2 with curtains in case that would help.

Checked for mites and lice. None at all that I can see. A few hens have clear vents, but feces in their feathers below their vents.

Dewormed approx 3 mths ago, no change in production.

Set up wildlife camera, no evidence of outside stressors.

8 of the hens had coccidiosis as chicks and we have wondered if this could affect them long term, but they laid very well their first winter, and this is effecting more than just the ones that had that as chicks!

What are we missing?! They are all acting perfectly normal and content. Another coop on the property is getting 3-5 eggs a day from 6 hens.

It's probably the time of year but since the other hens are laying I'm stumped. It also could be from egg bound but I doubt it since it's more than one hen. But another reason is that they are 14 months old they do start slowing down egg production when they reach 1.5-2 years old so that also could be it and the last cause could be what you're feeding them too. Try feeding them foods with lots of calcium and protein like egg shells, eggs, hemp parts, melon, celery, and mealworms they help egg production and they also sell oyster shells but from my experience they didn't works because my hens didn't like them but I hope you get it resolved

 

[ArthurFleck]

It's probably the time of year but since the other hens are laying I'm stumped. It also could be from egg bound but I doubt it since it's more than one hen. But another reason is that they are 14 months old they do start slowing down egg production when they reach 1.5-2 years old so that also could be it and the last cause could be what you're feeding them too. Try feeding them foods with lots of calcium and protein like egg shells, eggs, hemp parts, melon, celery, and mealworms they help egg production and they also sell oyster shells but from my experience they didn't works because my hens didn't like them but I hope you get it resolved

Also it depends on how much sunlight they are getting can effect them

 

[SophieL72]

They have free access to oyster shell. This has been going on since probably March or April and we have been trying one thing after another, so I wouldn't say its time of year. We are currently getting about 13 or 14 hrs of light daily, but this was even happening when we had light for 16 hrs a day! Thanks for the thoughts. We are stumped too!!