Hurricane stopped all egg laying

[LauraCatalano]

Is it common for hens to stop laying after a hurricane or other bad weather event? My 14 hens, normally lay about 10-12 eggs/day are down to only one and sometimes none since Florence blew through. They were safe inside the coop, and we didn't flood. What can i do... besides wait?

 

[Melky]

Is it common for hens to stop laying after a hurricane or other bad weather event? My 14 hens, normally lay about 10-12 eggs/day are down to only one and sometimes none since Florence blew through. They were safe inside the coop, and we didn't flood. What can i do... besides wait?

I don’t know that there is anything you can do. Any stressful situation may make them not lay. It is also getting later in season towards winter when chickens molt and their energy will go to that rather than lay. Also a reduction in daylight hours this time of year might impact laying. I would do nothing just wait it out and help them feel secure and happy in their home.

 

[aart]

Do you free range?
How old are they?

 

[Melky]

Is it common for hens to stop laying after a hurricane or other bad weather event? My 14 hens, normally lay about 10-12 eggs/day are down to only one and sometimes none since Florence blew through. They were safe inside the coop, and we didn't flood. What can i do... besides wait?

Sometimes can increase to feed with extra protein if wait does not help. If this does not help then it’s waiting till they lay again.

 

[bell636]

I'm curious how long it took your hens to start laying again?
We recently went through hurricane Michael here in the panhandle, our original hens stopped laying a few weeks before the storm. Since the storm we have aquired 30 something more chickens from people who could no longer care for them so I know adding to the flock is another change to upset their behaviors. Also it's the time of year but we have always gotten eggs during winter just not as many. Hurricane came through 10-10-18 and here we are 12-11-18 and have only gotten two eggs since. Most of them are Rhode island reds and a few Americanas, free range during the day cooped at night with what I would imagine several nice cosy nesting boxes. We've scoured the yard hunting for eggs and also tried keeping them cooped for a few weeks still with nothing. Any insite would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Antiocheggers]

My chickens just experienced hurricane Helena and Milton and they all have stopped laying.

 

[Penpal]

A traumatic even causes the chemical balance of the body to change. But then it should go back to normal. I wonder if the hurricane caused emotional trauma, which caused a slowdown in production and make them enter their nonpaying phase. Do they typically stop laying in the winter?

 

[Antiocheggers]

A traumatic even causes the chemical balance of the body to change. But then it should go back to normal. I wonder if the hurricane caused emotional trauma, which caused a slowdown in production and make them enter their nonpaying phase. Do they typically stop laying in the winter?q

No in Florida we don't have a winter. Right now we are enjoying a nice cool breeze. If it get to 50 ° we're shock! So I gave them some electrolytes in their water.

 

[Penpal]

Do they normally stop laying when the days are short? Its the shorter daylight hours that cause egg laying to stop, not the temperature.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Yes. Stress directly affects hormones in all animals especially reproductive hormones. That is why in women stress can affect that time of the month and even fertility. The same goes for chickens. It is scientifically proven that stress decreases estrogen again this isn’t just in chickens, but other animals and humans as well.