Laying slowed.

[Darin115]

I love the site. I just found it a few days ago. This is my first post.

I have 8 white leg horn hens. I got them about 2 months ago. They have been egg factories since I bought them. I keep them in a 8' x 12' house and let them roam several days a week. I keep (2) bantam hens and a bantam rooster in the house with them.

Last week the laying slowed from 7-8 eggs per day to 2-3 eggs per day. I noticed some of the hens losing feathers under their vent and on their neck.
They do not act sick and they continue to eat well and have their same silly behavior while scratching around the yard.

I thought they coud be molting but I was told it is the wrong time of year for that.

Yesterday the egg production went back up to 6 eggs for the leg horns.

Anyone have a clue what is going on with my girls??

Darin

 

[chcknrs]

Look around your property for hidden eggs. Sounds like they are working with the Easter Bunny.

 

[Darin115]

I am talking about the days I leave them inside the house.

Darin

 

[chcknrs]

Hmmm, do they get enough light in the house? That's a mystery.

 

[Darin115]

I have been keeping the curtains down all the time unless it is cold at night or the wind is blowing hard.

They get plenty of light. I was more concerned about losing feathers. The egg production picked back up yesterday. I will know when I get back home from work if it stays up.

Darin

 

[bigmike&nan]

Ours drops a little on cold and overcast days - maybe one egg every other day from each hen. Sunny warm days we get three eggs a day from two hens. Must be doing something right !!

 

[wynedot55]

are you sure your hens arnt hiding eggs.as they are out freeranging.now they could be taking a lil break.

 

[Cracker]

Several of mine are molting right now and have stopped laying. I recently moved several others to a new pen, and think they are mad about it because they have stopped laying also!

 

[Darin115]

They are back up to 6 eggs per day. I guess they were just taking a break.

I checked on them last night and I had one hen that had a problem. I guess a egg broke inside her. She had a discharge from her vent. Her vent was really swolen and infected looking. The discharge was rotten smelling. She acted like she was hurting really badly. I hated to do it but I ended her suffering. I hope I made the right decision.

I can't understand how this happened. I do not handle these hens and they stay relativly calm.

Darin