If birds are scared out of their wits, would they not lay?

[farmgirl77]

I have 20 hens that are not laying. I take that back, my bantam cochin (!!!) and a rock are the only ones. There are several possible reasons for this, but I have a question. I moved them into a tractor a couple weeks ago, right when they quit laying. Could one of the reasons be that a fox/coyote/coon is circling the tractor and terrorizing them frequently? I know we have these predators. The tractor is very secure, but I wonder if they are being harassed. I need a game camera! Has anyone else had this happen? I also had to treat them for lice, I added DE to feed to worm them, and we may have removed their supplemental light too quickly to get them in the tractor. Opinions appreciated.

 

[Bi0s]

stress and change will make them stop laying at times might take them time to get use to the tractor and get back into there daily routine can get pretty decent game cameras at walmart also

 

[mulewagon]

Ours had been laying well for months, 7-10 eggs a day from 11 hens. Then last week we had huge storms with lightning, very close, and hail all night. They went down to 2 eggs a day, and very small ones. The number and size gradually came back up over the last week until it's normal again. I do think it was the stress, and it apparently took several days for them to recover from that one episode.

 

[Cetawin]

Stress, change of environment, weather, and etc will cause them to stop laying. Watch them and give them time to settle in...make sure they are safe at night.