How long will it take to restart laying?

[Kmhv04]

Hello!

5 of my hens have stopped laying eggs as far as I can tell (they lay white eggs while the others lay brown, only getting brown now). The hens were sick with a respiratory issue, but had recouped (see below for explanation).

It has been 3+ weeks with no white eggs from hens that are only a year old and were regular layers.

They were sick for about 1.5-2weeks (warmer wetter weather +1°C-+4°C), but got better for about 2 weeks (while weather was below 0°C) until this week when the weather warmed (its drippy winter weather in the +1°C to +8°C). Having trouble understanding why this is happening. I would have thought that the cold would have been the problem, but it seems to be the warmer wetter weather.

So my questions are -

* How long do you think the lack of egg laying may last?

* Any ideas on what is causing the cold/respiratory issues/symptoms that come and go depending on temperature/weather?

Thank you!

 

[Bridebeliever]

The first thing I would look at in your coop is ventilation. This is the number one thing to watch. Chickens can handle brutal cold. What they can't handle is too much moisture in the air. And the colder it is the more moisture they produce. They also need to be protected from wind so make sure any extra ventilation you add doesn't add a draft. Now check your roost height, warm moist air rises, a lot of people here actually LOWER their roost height in the winter. My roost is only about 18" off the coop floor and my ceiling height is 10'!

As far as egg laying goes...they could be any time or they could be a couple more weeks if they are building strength and health. I would add some vitamins and probiotic to their water to give them an extra healthy boost!

Good luck!

 

[Kmhv04]

Thank you for the info! Our roost is about 12" off the ground, and the coop has a sloped ceiling that goes from about 6' to 5' in height.

As I am doing more research I'm starting to suspect ventilation issues as well. What do you recommend as a good method for ventilation without adding a draft? They do get closed up pretty tightly at night, but morning are let out into their run and the "stable style" door is opened on the top half to air out the coop.

Thanks again!

~M~

 

[Bridebeliever]

Usually it is at the roof area that more ventilation is added and that may be just fine for you since your roof isn't too high. Your roost height sounds perfect. I'm posting an excellent article for your to read explaining ventilation;

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/...-go-out-there-and-cut-more-holes-in-your-coop

 

[Kmhv04]

Thank you!

I'm thinking gable vents will possibly help pull out the stagnate air. I will also be looking for some recycled/used windows that I can open and close to provide more ventilation (mostly thinking summer months).

I am somewhat new to chickens (well, raising them myself, as a teen my brother raised chickens, but I didn't do much with them). I am using an old coop my father-in-law used to use and I assumed it was a proper coop, but am now realizing it needs some modifications!

Thank you for all the help!

~M~

 

[Kmhv04]

Usually it is at the roof area that more ventilation is added and that may be just fine for you since your roof isn't too high.  Your roost height sounds perfect.  I'm posting an excellent article for your to read explaining ventilation;

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/...-go-out-there-and-cut-more-holes-in-your-coop

Back to the egg question. Do you know if after being sick the egg color can change? I saw a white hen in the nesting boxes so I though "what if the egg color has gone from white to super light brown?". It may be that she's just getting ready to lay again, but I figured I'd ask.

Thanks!

~M~

 

[junebuggena]

Back to the egg question. Do you know if after being sick the egg color can change? I saw a white hen in the nesting boxes so I though "what if the egg color has gone from white to super light brown?". It may be that she's just getting ready to lay again, but I figured I'd ask.

Thanks!

~M~

Egg color is determined by genetics. Illness will not make a white layer suddenly start laying brown.

 

[Kmhv04]

So today I got a white egg! Yay! Sure enough after I decide to post the question regarding the lack of egg laying, they decide to start laying! Hopefully the others will soon follow!

Thanks to all who have helped answer my questions.

~M~

 

[Bridebeliever]

You're welcome! Glad the eggs are beginning again!