Low egg production over extended period of time

[Lizardlady58]

I have a flock of seven hands which spend the summer outside in a chicken coop with a run. I collect one egg a day in total ever since we got them in the spring. I believe they are two years old. They were being replaced by new layers and they were on the way to the Butcher’s when we got them. They are well fed, well supplemented, their water is cleaned and fresh every day, and I feed diatomaceous earth once a month to help with parasites. But for whatever reason as I said we are only getting one egg a day in total.They seem happy and healthy, we are stumped.

 

[Perris]

hello @Lizardlady58 - welcome to BYC

It could be that they are spent, laying-wise. Are they ex-battery/commercial hens?

 

[Lizardlady58]

We got them from a fellow that was replacing them with new layers. He said that they were only two years old but I have to admit that they were in really rough shape when we got them (lots of missing feathers) so maybe they were a bit older

 

[Lizardlady58]

Oh yes,, they were commercial layers

 

[Araucana Nest]

Summer is harder on some hens and they will decrease production. Plus these ladies came out of a high stress environment before summer heat took over. It could be they won't start laying for you until after they molt and maybe it will be Jan/Feb before they are producing again when the days start getting longer after their molt. Did they have artificial lights before? If they are indeed two years old, they should start laying again. Hens will lay for much longer than two years of age.