Hey I'm new to th site, and new to owning chickens. So please bare with my stupidity. I got a small flock of chickens/roosters. All young birds bought at different times and different local sellers. All different types. My first hen to start laying was a silkie. Thought that ok others r soon to follow. To no avail, except one Rhoade island white. First ones she laid were soft. I added oyster shells and eggs hardened up. Had a racoon, and an opossum problem. They kept raiding an killing. So n return I've been killin, an trapping coons, an possums. But th two hens that were laying stopped laying an no others have started. Now that RIW is sick to top it off!! Question is will chickens stop laying if there scared?
first off! Chickens will stop laying when they've been stressed and predator attacks are definitely a stressor. In addition to eliminating the preds you've had problems with, have you beefed up the security on your coop?
Yes I have beefed up security! And put two traps out. So far I've caught 4 Coons, 12 oposum. I don't even bait Th traps anymore, just put them beside and around the coops. Haven't had any chickens killed n a few weeks, still no eggs.
Be sure to lock them up at dusk every evening. With the shorter days of winter, a light on in the coop on a timer to provide light for 12 hours might help with laying. Mine comes on at 5am till daylight, then comes back on from 3-5:30 daily. Once hens stop laying for any reason, it can take a couple of weeks to start back.
Wow! Yeah they're probably stressed from all the predators prowling around. Maybe some extra vitamins or some cooked egg yolk will perk them up. That's ALOT if strsss to deal with
