Hens not laying

[lynviviana]

Does anyone have an idea why my entire flock stopped laying from one day to the next? I am feed nutrena 21% egg producer and they love it they leave nothing behind. I also provide clean water, sun, space, nesting boxes as well as plenty of fruits and veggies. I picked up 26 one day next day I got nothing. its been about 5 days since then I've picked up 6 eggs. All seems well here at the ranch, they all seem fine. all eating and drinking not sure what could be going on for all of them to literally stop all at once.

 

[Little Chicken Mama]

Are they laying somewhere else or molting?

 

[lynviviana]

Are they laying somewhere else or molting?

No they dont have access to lay anywhere else. I'm not sure how to tell if theyre molting. I do notice bald patches along my rhode islands back but my leghorns are horrible peckers ive had on and off issues with them fighting. Could it be that? if it is molting, how long does the process last?

 

[All4Eggz]

I think it might be molting. When the molt, they lose all their feathers right before winter, so this could last for weeks - even months. Once they stop molting, the winter months set in, and they get less sunlight, which could continue slowed egg production.

 

[aart]

not sure what could be going on for all of them to literally stop all at once.

Me neither.
How old are they in months?

I am feed nutrena 21% egg producer and they love it they leave nothing behind.

Does that mean they don't always have feed available?

 

[Ridgerunner]

Are you seeing a lot of feathers flying around. That would be because of a molt. It would be strange if a molt hit all of them at once.

Sometimes stress can cause them to stop laying for a while. That could be running out of water for a period of time, moving them to a new location, adding or subtracting flock members, a predator attack, or other stressful things. A significant change in day length can affect them strongly, especially if the "day" got shorter. Maybe a security light went out? Like everything else it seems highly unlikely something like this would affect all 26 overnight.

Sometimes they hide nests so production would appear to drop. It would be really strange for 26 hens to do that overnight. I don't believe it.

Most critters that eat eggs leave signs behind, like bits of egg shells or damp soggy spots. Have you seen any of those? Not sure where you re located but the main critters that take eggs and leave no signs in North America are snakes, canines, and humans. That is not a snake. A snake eats its fill then stays away a few days while it digests them, then comes back for more.

Most canines like a fox or coyote would be more interested in your hens that the eggs. 26 eggs is a lot but does a big dog have access to the nests? A dog can eat eggs while leaving the hens alone.

To me that leaves a human. That doesn't necessarily mean a thief, occasionally when something like this happens it's a practical joker. Funny, ha, ha. I hope it is something else, a human could be kind of creepy.

 

[lynviviana]

Are you seeing a lot of feathers flying around. That would be because of a molt. It would be strange if a molt hit all of them at once.

Sometimes stress can cause them to stop laying for a while. That could be running out of water for a period of time, moving them to a new location, adding or subtracting flock members, a predator attack, or other stressful things. A significant change in day length can affect them strongly, especially if the "day" got shorter. Maybe a security light went out? Like everything else it seems highly unlikely something like this would affect all 26 overnight.

Sometimes they hide nests so production would appear to drop. It would be really strange for 26 hens to do that overnight. I don't believe it.

Most critters that eat eggs leave signs behind, like bits of egg shells or damp soggy spots. Have you seen any of those? Not sure where you re located but the main critters that take eggs and leave no signs in North America are snakes, canines, and humans. That is not a snake. A snake eats its fill then stays away a few days while it digests them, then comes back for more.

Most canines like a fox or coyote would be more interested in your hens that the eggs. 26 eggs is a lot but does a big dog have access to the nests? A dog can eat eggs while leaving the hens alone.

To me that leaves a human. That doesn't necessarily mean a thief, occasionally when something like this happens it's a practical joker. Funny, ha, ha. I hope it is something else, a human could be kind of creepy.

None of the what you mentioned seems to contribute as to why they aren't laying. I clean their 5 gallon water every morning. The coop and run are predator proof and I also have a game camera that I check often. I see no signs of entry they all seems fine to me I notice my RIR bald on their backs completely but I don't see it on my leghorns. The leghorns have always been aggressive but I simply assumed they are plucking the crap out of my reds.

 

[lynviviana]

None of the what you mentioned seems to contribute as to why they aren't laying. I clean their 5 gallon water every morning. The coop and run are predator proof and I also have a game camera that I check often. I see no signs of entry they all seems fine to me I notice my RIR bald on their backs completely but I don't see it on my leghorns. The leghorns have always been aggressive but I simply assumed they are plucking the crap out of my reds. As far as stealing, my chickens are under lock and key lol.

If anything, i did change to Nutrena egg producer it is 21% about two weeks ago I dont see why it would affect but could it be??

 

[lynviviana]

Me neither.
How old are they in months?


Does that mean they don't always have feed available?

I Stopped doing that because they leave a ton behind and would attract rodents. Chickens are chickens and obvi make a ton of mess

 

[lynviviana]

Are they laying somewhere else or molting?

Think if anything its molting. They dont have access to lay anywhere else i have tons of nesting boxes but they prefer to share boxes i let them do what they want.