Hens quit laying....are they chicken soup??

[havencroft]

Geez I like having chickens, I've been reading here but just joined, I need to ask. We got these few as chicks last year.
I have just a few hens, all bantams.
Two dark leghorns, two rock hens and one brahma, along with a dark leghorn roo.
The hens were going great until about April, then egg production slowed way back.
Then in June it picked up to normal for a couple weeks, and not an egg since. It's now August as you know.
I did see feathers (not tons) and thought ok wait for them to molt, but that doesn't seem to be the issue now.
They are only just over a year old and I can't figure it out.
They are on layer crumbles, grit and crushed egg shells though not many of those lately. They free range during the day and take themselves home to roost in the evening. I've always closed the gate on the coop for the night.
I dusted good in case of lice. Still no improvement.
Any ideas? Do bantams quit laying earlier than the standard hens?
Or is there something I don't know and need to learn?
Thanks

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'd suggest you check out this site. You are on the spot and will see things we cannot.

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

It could be several things. My two top guesses are they have a hidden nest or you have an egg eater. It sounds too consistent for a predator unless the predator is a human neighbor. It is possible it is a disease or maybe the heat is stressing them. And some chickens are slow molters. It takes them a while to complete the task.

Not much help I know. Maybe the link will help.

 

[elmo]

It could be the heat, too.

http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/Heat_hurts_egg_production

 

[havencroft]

Can't be the heat it's the coolest summer we have had in Wisconsin in years. We're a bit short of rain though.
I am going to think about the layer crumbles I'm feeding though.
I switched to the 18% crumbles our Co-op sells. It was a bit cheaper and seemed comparable. But if I think about it perhaps egg production dropped off when I switched to it.
Also I have read that the table scraps(veggie scraps and whatever) can upset the nutritional balance, so I quit that almost completely. Perhaps I shouldn't have. hmmmm
The hens seem healthy, clucking, pecking and scratching and busy.
Combs and all have nice color etc.
Guess I'll give them another week or so but I don't think it's worth keeping them for long. Really didn't buy them for "pets" though we do enjoy them.
I do appreciate the suggestions and the website to check.
Perhaps I will try some wormer ???
All help is appreciated.

 

[cmom]

If they recently molted it can be awhile before they start to lay again.

I only worm my birds if I see any. If I have to de-worm, I use Verm-x it is a natural wormer and there is no egg withdrawal period.

http://www.vermx.com

 

[Ridgerunner]

Let me give you another site then. You may be able to tell if they are laying from this site. Yours are bantams so the vent measurements won't apply, but the other signs should. If they are laying you have a different problem than if they are not laying. It might be easy to fix or, well, I like dumplings more than soup for older birds but it needs to be cooked long and slow.

http://msucares.com/poultry/management/culling.html#id

Good luck!

 

[elmo]

Quote:
I'm jealous...I've lost track of the number of over 100 degree days here in Texas.