Incredibly low egg count lately... Too many roosters?

[affacat]

We have 45 chickens. I'm not exactly sure how many roosters we have currently (I think between 6 and 8 but I'd have to count).

We used to be getting about a dozen eggs a day which still seemed a little low, but lately we've been getting 3-5. We've searched the yard and even kept them contained for a few days to see if anything changed but count remains ridiculously low. This has been going on for a few months. 18 of our chickens were born in May so are younger, and a couple are older, and some were broody, but it still seems off by a fair amount.

I'm aware there are other factors like age, weather, broody etc so we've been giving them a break over egg count for quite a while, hoping it would resolve itself. It's not.

Is our rooster count the most likely suspect?

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

45 chickens with about 6-8 roosters and 18 of those hatched May of this year. I'm getting 10-13 eggs a day from my 19 hens. If you're free ranging them, they could have a secret nest somewhere.

Roosters do cause a lot of stress, so I think you should rehome a few, though they're probably not the full reason for 3-5 eggs a day.

 

[3KillerBs]

Too many roosters *can* stress the flock (especially hormonal cockerels), and stress can reduce laying. I don't remember laying issues specific to this issue in my flock, but twice I've had a heavy load of cockerels trying to catch the hens and upsetting the older males and the flock was in a constant state up uproar until I removed the ones I wasn't keeping.

Are the mature hens molting?

How many hours of daylight are you getting at your latitude? Reduced daylight reduces laying.

 

[Mrs. K]

The old girls - molting. The May girls may not be laying yet, or not laying well. But I am betting on a hidden nest. Need to spend the morning with them.

I have a very young flock and while no where near your numbers, I was hoping for more eggs, and they have just not gotten to laying yet. ugh!

Mrs K

 

[affacat]

We really did think there was a hidden nest somewhere but we have searched the yard. Around the beginning of summer we were getting around a dozen a day and we would sometimes find hidden nests but we haven't found any lately.

But three eggs is unacceptable for 45 chickens. Absolutely unacceptable. It just doesn't justify our feed costs at all.

We had a bunch that were broody for a good 2 months which is why we were letting it slide but now we only have one broody but it's molting weather.

We live in the Pacific Northwest so our days are getting short. But we used to still get a few eggs even with a significantly smaller flock. To only in a few eggs with this flock is criminal. Don't the ladies know they have to pay the rent?

 

[aart]

We've searched the yard and even kept them contained for a few days to see if anything changed

Might take longer than a few days.

What all and how exactly are you feeding?

 

[Acre4Me]

You are an experienced keeper, so you know most of the potential issues. It is so frustrating to not get eggs!!

Agree with all above suggestions and your thoughts. In addition, any lice or mites (parasites) on the girls? Any evidence of nighttime visitors that might be stressing them out? Such as a raccoon trying to figure a way in to the coop.

Was your source if these chickens (or the breeds) new to you? Maybe poor laying genetics. Last year (spring 2021) we got chicks from our usual place, and breeds we have gotten before. They started laying mid summer, but nearly ALL chickens (new layers and older hens) stopped laying…we had to buy feed for them and eggs at the store for nearly 8 months!!! We were not happy- while production drops in the winter, it had never been that bad. Maybe the Hatchery was using some new genetic stock? We also have light in a timer for them, so they were getting enough light. In the early spring we sold most of the flock (leaving 8 including well behaved rooster), and bought 18 chicks, including 6 high production ones. Hopefully this winter we will have eggs.

Good luck -hopefully they begin to lay again for you bc feeding so many chickens without eggs is a pain.

 

[member 656732]

We have 45 chickens. I'm not exactly sure how many roosters we have currently (I think between 6 and 8 but I'd have to count).

We used to be getting about a dozen eggs a day which still seemed a little low, but lately we've been getting 3-5. We've searched the yard and even kept them contained for a few days to see if anything changed but count remains ridiculously low. This has been going on for a few months. 18 of our chickens were born in May so are younger, and a couple are older, and some were broody, but it still seems off by a fair amount.

I'm aware there are other factors like age, weather, broody etc so we've been giving them a break over egg count for quite a while, hoping it would resolve itself. It's not.

Is our rooster count the most likely suspect?

Hi…yes, you should check roo’s count (usually 1 roo per 6-8 hens is what I’ve experienced at my Family farms growing up…). We raise (and raised back then) chickens for Eggs ,and, as a Food Source, so we separate and feed young extra roo’s to fatten them up to cull them. Our family, and most dear friends, love the Fresh Chicken(s) as much as our Organic Eggs!!!