jump start egg production

[mendozer]

haven't had any eggs the last few weeks. It's been a pretty skimpy laying time since the summer. I de-wormed them in October and they slowly started laying, but maybe a month ago was the highest volume as of late and that was only 5 a week for 4 hens. And recently they stopped again.

They have good feed, free choice grit and shell, snacks occasionally, light timer, in a tractor with fresh grass daily. I have no idea what's going on and they're only 2.5 yrs old, so they shouldn't have dropped off so fast.

 

[aart]

2.5 years is often when layers often start a sharp decline in productivity.

What's your light timer schedule?
Are the molting?

 

[mendozer]

but that quick of a decline? Timer's set for 14 hours light. And no they molted back in the spring/early summer.

 

[aart]

Could be....could be another stressor.
What kind of birds and where did you get them?

 

[mendozer]

all barred rocks and they were from a private seller who raised like 40 from chicks. They were great producers for me for a couple years.

 

[mendozer]

i freshened the coop up and in the last week nothing's been laid. would putting a golf ball in there jump start their thinking process of (ooh an egg, let me copy that)? I did that to help them lay in the right spot when they were younger.