My Chickens Are Not Laying :-(

[marianne76]

Hi!

My name is Marianne, i just joined your forum today.

I have 3 chickens, 2 years old who until now about 10 days ago) have been laying 2 eggs a day between them, in the first year I literally could not eat them all but my friends and family were very please as I had lots to give away

However, in the last 3/4 days they laid one normal one between them and the 4 days prior to that they laid 4 ish soft shell and were eating them which I know is bad as they will keep doing it but we only saw them when they were open and noticed the soft shell.

They have been eating layer pellets have shell and grit, have done consistently since we had them from chicks other than the chick crums they had when they were babies.

Can anyone tell me what I should be doing. Do I need to give them a calcium supplement as well maybe?

Thanks,

Marianne

 

[Pork Pie]

Hi Marianne and welcome to BYC. I’m not sure if you feed your flock additional food other than layers feed, but if you do I’d suggest cutting that out of their diet as a first course of action.

This link will hopefully provide suggestions that will help - http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/common-egg-quality-problems

 

[aart]

Soft shelled eggs can have a number of causes...
...and are fair game for eating as they are easily broken,
it doesn't mean they will start eating hard shelled eggs.

We need more info, before deciding what the problem might be and how to solve it.
Please tell us:
your flock size(numbers, ages, genders),
your coop(size in feet by feet with pics),
and what and how exactly you are feeding,
might offer clues to if there is a solvable problem.

Oh, and Welcome to BYC! @marianne76
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, (laptop version shown), then it's always there!

 

[marianne76]

Thanks aart - Chcik Juggler... I had no idea anyone had responded:

• Flock size - x 3
• Ages - 2years old
• Genders - all girls
• your coop 1.5m wide by 5m long
• What and how exactly you are feeding - layer pellets once day in a feeder, some are left the next day so defiantly enough and a few meal worms each day, scattered in their run

thanks in advance,

Marianne

 

[ChickNanny13]

Where are you located, it could also be to your weather conditions.
Layer is fine, Oyster Shells & grit good.
Do you know their breeds? Pictures?

 

[marianne76]

Hi Marianne and welcome to BYC. I’m not sure if you feed your flock additional food other than layers feed, but if you do I’d suggest cutting that out of their diet as a first course of action.

This link will hopefully provide suggestions that will help - http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/common-egg-quality-problems

Thank you!

Where are you located, it could also be to your weather conditions.
Layer is fine, Oyster Shells & grit good.
Do you know their breeds? Pictures?

Thanks for coming back Pork Pie,

They are the red classic layers - don't know the breed. We live in Codicote in Hertfordshire. Their coop is 1.5m wide by 5/6 long, it does not get a massive ammount of sunshine but they have been in there for 2 years with no problems... :-( we give them shell and grit every morning.

Marianne

 

[aart]

So I'm betting a high production hybrid, they can start to have laying problems at 2-3 years old.
Did they molt last fall?
Do you give other foods/treats?
Do you free range...hidden nest maybe?
Are you giving plenty of fresh, plain water?

Or it could just be too damn hot to make an egg, are you having high temps over there?

 

[Acre4Me]

It’s quite possible they have reached the end of their high production life. You might be at the point of getting some new layers or deciding to keep these ones through old age and decreased production. Maybe both if you are allowed more than 3 hens.


A neighbor likes his white eggs from production leghorns. His last batch gave him an egg a day every day with the occasional missed day, all seasons. Then they turned 2 and it was almost like a switch flipped, and he was getting few eggs. It was spring, so he bought more leghorn chicks which he figures will last him a couple more years.

The feed situation sounds fine, and your treats for the birds sound minimal (only some mealworms 1x per day). But, if you are giving any other treats that should stop. Good luck!