Hens not laying

[farmerfay]

I’ve seen many threads in here about this and I apologize for one more!
my hens stopped laying in august and I’ve tried everything I can think of to help them but nothing! I have many of them- but the 11 that were laying daily just poof stopped! A few of them are now molting so I figured that could be part of it, but many of them look and are acting perfectly happy.
I haven’t changed food, they have lots of fresh water, an enormous area to run around in and plenty of private boxes... I have a rooster who has been there all along and pretty decent fellow. The only thing that changed was a neighbor dropped a few ducks off but I can’t remember if that’s when they stopped or not... could that cause them to stop laying? The ducks are friendly and keep to themselves have separate water and their own little home.... I’ve owned bh I lend my whole life and never have seen it go in for this long!
thanks for any advice

 

[Freie Family Farm]

How old are they? Where are you located? Thatll help narrow things down for others to help answer

 

[Offshoreorca]

It’s common for birds to stop laying (or decrease) around the when fall starts as they start to molt. This takes a lot of protein and energy. The best thing you can do is supplement more protein - put them on all flock feed with oyster shells on the side and give them some black sunflower seeds (or another treat high in protein). Some people use lights to stimulate longer days and get them laying again, but we give them a break at this time of year. We went from getting 11 eggs a day to only 1-4 depending on the day (and who is in molt and who isn’t).

 

[farmerfay]

How old are they? Where are you located? Thatll help narrow things down for others to help answer

They are various ages but the 10 that were laying almost daily are roughly 12 months. I’m in northern vermont- I’ve had chickens in this are so I know that as days shorten egg production decreases... I’ve never seen it just stop like this and it stopped when the weather was still quite warm and sunny a few months ago thanks !

 

[farmerfay]

It’s common for birds to stop laying (or decrease) around the when fall starts as they start to molt. This takes a lot of protein and energy. The best thing you can do is supplement more protein - put them on all flock feed with oyster shells on the side and give them some black sunflower seeds (or another treat high in protein). Some people use lights to stimulate longer days and get them laying again, but we give them a break at this time of year. We went from getting 11 eggs a day to only 1-4 depending on the day (and who is in molt and who isn’t).

Thank you- yes I can tell a few are molting it has been going on month three where I was getting 12-17 eggs daily and now down to 0-2 daily it just seemed so sudden... I added oysters but will get some seeds for them too.