Hens Quit Laying

[kucala5]

Hi there, I've currently got 17 layers and have been gathering around 8-10 eggs daily. In the last month both my roosters have been killed

(plus a few hens). We've since killed the predator but egg production has really dropped in the last 2 weeks and today ZERO eggs. My girls are 2 years old and have always had a roo around and been consistant layers. Would the lack of a roo effect there laying?

 

[undermywings]

Don't know where you live but where I live the extreme high temperatures stopped all egg production here. It does every year during the hottest part of summer.

 

[kucala5]

We're having a splendid Arkansas summer-70s and rain today. So, you don't think the lack of a rooster makes a difference?

 

[RSAChickenDude]

Some people say that when hens have a big fright or suddenly a big change is made in their environment it somehow causes them to stop laying.

 

[Lensters]

Quote:
I bought some laying hens and sent the roosters that came with them to a "friend's" place. They slowed down some over a matter of a month (from 8-10 eggs a day to 6-8 eggs a day from 11 hens). Then I got a new rooster the egg production jumped back to 8 or 9 eggs a day immediately.

 

[Judy]

Lots of things can affect laying, including the shock of a predator attack.

http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/library/lvstk2/ep127.pdf

 

[RSAChickenDude]

One of my friends have a similar problem the have 10 bufforp hens and about 3 roosters and recently all of their hens have stopped laying how can you get them to lay again?

 

[kucala5]

4 eggs yesterday, 1 egg today. Could I have a snake? Would a snake come several times a day?

 

[DDRanch]

Quote:
Agree with ddawn. I would also add the loss (or addition) of any of the flock members can disrupt the laying cycle. Hot weather will also slow them down along with any new or different circumstances.

I lost a hen 8 months ago to a hawk and the rest of the flock quit laying for 5 or 6 days as they had all been chased by this hawk right into a shed. They were all tramatized and it took a while for things to settle down and pecking order reestablished.

I suppose you could have a snake, but I would think they are readjusting to the new order.

Good luck.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'll post another site that discusses why hens stop laying. You might get some clues from here as you are looking at them and can see things we can't. Anything that causes stress can stop them laying, like a predator attack or a change in pecking order. It could also be an egg eater or a predator. Sometimes these things are hard to figure out.

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