I don't get any eggs from hens

[StinkyAcres]

I always had high hopes for my girls to lay one a day. I've come to learn that this is not always so. Mine probably give me an egg every day and a half or even two at times. I've got three that are laying and I'm lucky to get one or two a day, some days I get none. Other times I'll get three. I gave up trying to figure them out. I'm just happy when there's an egg or two. I agree with the others here. Depending on where you live with temps, and the fact that we are entering the molting season here in PA, those factors always affect their laying habits. If you never get eggs at all, then I'd be concerned.

Producing eggs and laying is hard on hens so they need breaks. If hens laid every day they would die quickly. Many chicken breeds have been bred to lay way more than their ancestors which often results in health problems and reduces their lifespans considerably.

 

[Bird is the word]

Thanks for all the info, but I just find it very odd how they used to be laying so much and then stopped I have read online that some chickens start eating their eggs after accidentally breaking them and then they start a habit I think this is what is happening with my hens because one time I was picking up one eggs I found in their nesting box and one on them ran towards me and then tried to peck at the egg could this be they are eating the eggs or was it just because they where used to getting treats from my hand.

 

[Ruffled Feathers]

Could easily be that what others have mentioned, that they are laying somewhere else. Has anything changed that would stress them? Could it be a snake or rat or homeless person with a taste for omelets getting eggs?

You could check for eggs much more frequently. That may give some insight if they are eating them (caught in the act, wet spots in bedding, shell fragments). Also, you could check where they are when you hear the chicken song.

 

[Bird is the word]

Could easily be that what others have mentioned, that they are laying somewhere else. Has anything changed that would stress them? Could it be a snake or rat or homeless person with a taste for omelets getting eggs?

You could check for eggs much more frequently. That may give some insight if they are eating them (caught in the act, wet spots in bedding, shell fragments). Also, you could check where they are when you hear the chicken song.

I have added a few new chickens to the coop but not laying eggs started before that and I have a lock on the coop so no one can get in and I have checked my coop for holes and there aren't any I haven't seen any shell fragment or wet bedding but also my chickens are always playing with their bedding ( spraying it it around and kicking it) so I could probably have missed any evidence there was and whenever they are doing the chicken song they are usually in the coop right by the nesting box or even inside it but I still don't get eggs except from one of the new chickens I got which just started laying

 

[LaFleche]

You could switch their feed to all flock or grower feed containing ~20% protein , as older birds often need more protein for egg production than the bare minimum of 16%. Just put out crushed oyster shell free choice in a separate dish.

And you could install roll-away nest boxes to prevent them from eating their own eggs, there are some easy DIY solutions you can find online, or you can buy them prefab.

 

[NatJ]

Do you have any fake eggs in the nestboxes?

Fake eggs can sometimes re-train egg eaters, because they keep trying to eat the fake egg and it never opens up to give them a tasty meal. So they eventually decide that pecking egg-shaped-things is not worth the effort. (It does not always work, but just keeping a few fake eggs in the nestboxes is a very easy thing to try. And if your fake eggs ever disappear, you know to look for an egg thief!)

 

[musikfan]

Producing eggs and laying is hard on hens so they need breaks. If hens laid every day they would die quickly. Many chicken breeds have been bred to lay way more than their ancestors which often results in health problems and reduces their lifespans considerably.

That's a really good point that you make. I was not aware of this as I am still relatively new with having chickens. That makes good sense and explains why we don't get an egg a day from each chicken