Hens Not Laying

[drverdog]

Hi I have 1 Barred Rock ,1 RI Red,2 buffs, 1 Amberlink, hens all were laying untill a day or so ago they all stopped. I am in Florida and it has been hot. They have layer and plenty of water. I put Up A large tarp 16x24 To cover the coop and most of there run with some open areas. Why have they stoped laying eggs????

 

[DIMBY]

Are they molting or getting ready to molt? They won't lay for a few days during this process.

 

[Freckle Face Farm]

Mine to it is just way too HOT!!!!

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'll post a link to a site that discusses why hens stop laying. You may see something here that will tell you what is going on. You are looking at them and will see things we can't even imagine.

Virginia Tech – Stopped Laying
http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/2902/2902-1097/2902-1097.pdf

Several things come to mind. They may be under stress, maybe from the heat. But with five hens all laying, I'd think you would still get 1 or 2 eggs. I would not think they would all stop like that, even if they were stressed into a molt. But it is certainly possible.

My first thought is that they have learned to eat eggs. That would explain going immediately from 5 eggs to zero. My second thought is a predator, maybe even the human kind.

Another thought is that they are hiding the eggs from you.

Good luck! This one may be hard to figure out and know you are 100% right.