Less eggs than I expected

[HumbleAmerican]

should she change out all of her bedding too?

I pull everything out of the coop and spray. Then replace with fresh bedding and litter. For second and third spray sessions I thoroughly hit the shaving I use for deep litter and just replace the nest box material.

Run gets soaked thoroughly.

 

[aart]

Chances are you older birds have already ramping down production and are getting ready to molt due to the shortening days.

Suggestions for treating mites?

First find out if they have lice and/or mites, then figure the best way to treat for them:

Check them over real well for mites and/or lice.
Google images of lice/mites and their eggs before the inspection so you'll know what you're looking for.

Part the feathers right down to the skin around vent, head/neck and under wings.

Best done well after dark with a strong flashlight/headlight, easier to 'catch' bird and also to check for the mites that live in structure and only come out at night to feed off roosting birds.

Wipe a white paper towel along the underside of roost to look for red smears(smashed well fed mites).

Good post about mite ID by Lady McCamley:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-chicken-has-mites-now-what.1273674/page-2#post-20483008

I am in central Indiana

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[CandCChicks]

Chances are you older birds have already ramping down production and are getting ready to molt due to the shortening days.


First find out if they have lice and/or mites, then figure the best way to treat for them:

Check them over real well for mites and/or lice.
Google images of lice/mites and their eggs before the inspection so you'll know what you're looking for.

Part the feathers right down to the skin around vent, head/neck and under wings.

Best done well after dark with a strong flashlight/headlight, easier to 'catch' bird and also to check for the mites that live in structure and only come out at night to feed off roosting birds.

Wipe a white paper towel along the underside of roost to look for red smears(smashed well fed mites).

Good post about mite ID by Lady McCamley:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-chicken-has-mites-now-what.1273674/page-2#post-20483008



Here's how to add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!
View attachment 3230403

I didn’t see any sign of lice or mite eggs. I do have one gal that’s got an inflamed vent area. I attached a pic.

 

[Acre4Me]

I have RIR, ISA brown, wyandottes, Orpingtons

RIR and ISA brown are generally good egg layers. Wyandottes and Orpingtons are generally going to lay less than the RIR or ISA brown. Of course, there are always exceptions, but that would be my expectations for laying.

All of your chickens are getting ready to slow down and molt bc their bodies are getting the signal due to lessening light. Some molt pretty heavy, some have a lighter molt. But, generally they will stop laying to molt. Since they have all gone through one winter, they are likely going to molt soon.

During a molt, they willl benefit from a higher protein feed. Feathers are high protein, and they have to grow new feathers, so up their protein. You can use a higher protein chicken feed (like for meat chickens), or go to an all-flock feed, as these are usually around 20% protein. You can just give them cooked meat as a supplement, but if you do this, then watch the salt - nothing with much salt in it as too much salt is bad for poultry.

Some people who want more eggs will add light on a timer in the coop area. This keeps their systems getting the approx 14 hours a day light needed to lay. However, a molting chicken, even under light, will still stop laying as they are putting their energy into feather making. So, you will still have them taking a break.

Some people want the eggs, therefore, they cycle high production layers through - using them for 2 years and remove and replace with new layers. High production breeds commonly produce well for about 2 years, then production drops off.

 

[Toothpick]

Have you checked the coop throughly? And check the outdoor run too. The eggs might not be in the nest boxes.

 

[CandCChicks]

Have you checked the coop throughly? And check the outdoor run too. The eggs might not be in the nest boxes.

I checked my birds. I also checked the roosting area and nesting boxes. Is this not where I check?

 

[sourland]

Chances are you older birds have already ramping down production and are getting ready to molt due to the shortening days.

This coupled with the excessively hot weather are likely causing the break in their laying cycle.

 

[Toothpick]

I checked my birds. I also checked the roosting area and nesting boxes. Is this not where I check?

That’s a good place to start. But if you think you are missing eggs then check everywhere the birds have access to. They might not be laying in the nest boxes. So check all over the coop and all over the outdoor run. If your birds free range then good luck finding the eggs

I’ve found eggs in the run before. And when I had birds that would free range there were eggs all over.

 

[Magnumchicken]

Sorry if someone hasn't mentioned. It has been a very hot summer in your area. A lot of 90 degree days. So I would suspect it is just that. My production reds slow down in summer and my leghorns slow down in winter.

 

[Vicker]

I would expect more eggs from that many layers. Usually, I get about half as many eggs per day as there are hens. When they are stressed by extreme weather conditions, over-active roosters, or frequent predator scares, production falls off.