Hens stopped laying...Are they sick, or on strike??

[chubbydog811]

My hens have been going strong with their egg laying...
There are 2 coops - one with 4 hens and a rooster, and another with 13 hens and a rooster - the coops are built into eachother though the chickens stay separated.
The problem I've been having - they stopped laying about a week ago. I was getting 4 eggs a day from the 4 chickens(all under a year old), and about 6-8 a day from the 13 chickens (6 are a little under a year, 7 are over 2). But starting last week, they just stopped laying...They started back up today - I got 3 and 3 from the 2 coops, but is there any real reason why they arent laying? They have normal poops, eating, drinking, and not acting stressed, but I have no clue why they did this! My really old hen (almost 5 years) sounds raspy when she squaks, but that is a normal thing. None of the other chickens have any kind of symptoms. No sneezing, coughing, gross poop ect from any of them...
And they arent moulting...

Any ideas before I either make supper or find them homes? I cant have this many chickens not laying - we sell our eggs, and tomorrow will be the first day that we actually run out! I dont know what to do!!!

Maybe I'm looking past something important that might help? The only thing I can think is we've been having some major weather changes the past few weeks- temp ranging from 40* to almost 90*, humid then raw, rainy then sunny...Could that have something to do with it?

Any help would be great!

 

[aberfitch]

anytime they are shocked, scared, major wether, loud thunderstorm, or molt they will stop laying. I have 10 cages and when one stops they all stop. Sometimes mother nature tells them to go on break they will.

 

[TN.MamaHen]

Broody??Maybe?? I don't see them all doing it at one time though??

I'm not much help,but just a suggestion.Maybe someone with more experience will have some answers for you soon.

 

[aberfitch]

your right it is broody season.

 

[SpottedCrow]

We're having the same roller coaster weather as you...Obelisk, my Leghorn has been doing the same thing...she went from an egg a day to zip...she laid yesterday anyways...
That could be stressing them out.

 

[NateDomRIR]

It has been cloudy/overcast here in east Texas for the past week. I got 4 eggs yesterday where I usually get at least 12. They think it's winter @ 80*.

Nate

 

[chickabator]

mine did this back in the fall and it took them almost 3 months to start laying again. it was the feed I had them on plus moult

 

[chubbydog811]

Thanks for all the comments...I know that they arent moulting, and it's highly unlikely they are all broody - I have sexlinks and leghorns.
I'm hoping it is just the crazy weather.
Though if it takes my guys at least 3 months to start laying again, they're getting the boot. I cant have this many chickens not laying for no reasonable reason!
Hopefully they start back up with in the next week!

I really just wanted to make sure there wasnt something I was missing....

 

[LynneP]

Are you feeding corn? It makes them very warm this time of year, and could be the issue. Chicken hate severe heat and need places of refuge. When heat-stressed, they often stop laying.

Do they have access to cool spots with air motion, and adequate ventilation in the coop?

They like ice chunks added to water and 'swamp coolers' which are damp pits with soaking rags or towels hanging above to keep the air moving as the water evaporates. Electrolytes help, too. Some people freeze water in large plastic soda bottles so the hens can lay against them.

 

[chubbydog811]

We dont feed corn, just the layer pellets, and the oyster shells.
Both the coops are well ventilated, and stay cool when its hot, and can be closed up when it is too cold.

Im not sure if it was the heat that made them stop though - they were fine through the heat, they stopped when it got cold again....