laying chickens not laying.....

[karhernandez33]

My mom has about 20 or more chicken any where from 9months to 1 yr . alittle over a month ago she got a first egg from one of the younger chicks,and 1 egg a day from a older chicken.but now nothing not one egg in over a month .any suggestons ....

 

[mgw]

Tell them if they don't want to help out for breakfast, then they can help out for dinner! Lol. Mine are not laying well right now either, it's the short days I think.

 

[RedfogsFlock]

We have a light in our coop that goes on at 7 am and off at 7 pm. We get an egg a day from each hen including our ducks! 14 a day never missing a day, lol

 

[BarkerChickens]

Chickens generally require 14 hours of light to lay (they won't hatch chicks in cold weather, so naturally, why lay?). Some breeds will lay reduced amounts, others stop completely. Some people add in artificial lighting for a few hrs in the evening to make them lay again (just don't leave it on since it will screw up their schedule...they are VERY light dependent). If you don't add light (many of us don't since we figure their bodies need a rest), then they will start up again in the spring.

 

[Cowgirl71]

Are they free ranged? Could they be hiding their eggs under bushes and such?

 

[bills]

It's the shorter fall days for sure.
If you do decide to introduce a light to the coop, don't just set it for 14-16 hour days right off the bat. Start at approx the daylight hours you are receiving naturally, and then increase the lighting time by a half hour, every 3 days or so, until you are up to the max hours per day. Your basically artificially introducing spring to them, to stimulate them to lay again...

As to the actual number as to hours of light, I have learned 14-16 hours is the preferred numbers.

Another trick I learned from a neighbor, is to give them some warm oatmeal in the morning, during the colder periods. This warm meal seems to give them a boost.

 

[Dixiedoodle]

You didn't say what breed? what you are feeding them? free range? any lights in the coop? are they molting? could you have predators--including humans?

There are many reason why chickens stop or slack up on laying eggs.. most will need more information to help them...

 

[karhernandez33]

most of the older ones are all white with single comes I think yellow or orange colored legs. there is a mix of breeds. and she feeds them mostly pellets and table food. not free ranged but have a good space. its more of a dog kennel ,the clip ther wings . change water everyday....she also has 2 geese in with them.

 

[kathyinmo]

http://shilala.homestead.com/notlaying.html