Lack of eggs

[kingme]

Is it possible all of my chickens are molting at the same time? I have 7 hens and I was getting 5-6 eggs a day. Currently I am lucky to get one. Nothing hase changed as far as food and water. But the eggs have really dropped off. Should I find some sort of vitamin to add to their water or does that even help. Any ideas?

 

[can you hear me now?]

If they are melting you will see a lot of feathers laying around. If not maybe it is the lack of light? Seems to be the issue a lot this time.of year since the days are getting shorter. Thing to remember is they need at least a good.14 hours of light. To all the people that are afraid of burning down coop, it doesn't have to be a heat light. You can use fluorescent light too. Like those low wattage bulbs.

 

[lindseythefork]

I would assume they're molting but only if there are tons of feathers around and your chickens look scraggly. If they look fine and are not laying, well, then, I don't know.

 

[tammyd57]

It's the time of year. Chickens are molting now (and don't always LOOK like they are) and the days are getting short. Both of those contribute to a slow down or stop in egg laying. About the only thing you can do is wait, or add supplemental lighting.
It is a good idea to up their protein level for a few weeks to help grow new feathers.

 

[kingme]

Thanks for the responses. IThere are a lot of feathers around and they do appear to be growing new ones. It must be that, we have plenty of light still here in CA. We were about 80 degrees today. How long do they molt for?

 

[Eggie and Me]

Our flock also of 7 all started molting at the same time and we're lucky to get 1 or 2 eggs a day. This has been going on for a few weeks now. We figure once the molting stops the eggs will start coming again.

 

[donnavee]

Same here, I have 10 and was getting as many as 8 eggs a day. Most days I get around 4 or 5, but today I only got 2. I know some of the girls are molting and the days are much shorter. Some breeds lay better during the winter - those would be my BSL's, I can always depend on them for eggs. I didn't add supplemental lighting last year, and doubt I will this year even though I can. For some reason, I just feel it's nature's way of giving them a little break.