My chickens are not laying!

[woodlandblaze]

I am getting very frustrated! I have 21 chickens, some last years hatch, some this years. Most are red sex links with a few australorps and easter eggers. I was getting about 10 eggs a day for a while, and looking forward to getting more like 15-18/day but it has just stopped. I am lucky if I get 1 egg a day now. I have done everything I can think of.

• light in the coop on a timer for 14 hours of light
• Keep the coop clean
• Fresh water in all waterers
• Constant access to clean fresh layer feed
• Oyster shell and grit free access
• They have a large pen with grass
• De-wormed them all

etc.

I have searched the pen several times a day in addition to the coop for eggs and still nothing. I just don't know what to do now. They seem happy and healthy, other than no eggs from my supposed to be great egg layers.

I can't afford to keep these guys if they aren't going to produce any eggs. They did great last year. I don't know what happened.

Any additional tips that are not in the "standard" list of trouble shooting?

 

[nakstk]

Are they molting? My last years hatch started molting in late Sept early Oct. From your name do you happen to live in Woodland?

 

[woodlandblaze]

The older ones might be. I know a few of them were molting this summer, but the 8 month old ones shouldn't be. I should still be getting at least 9/day. I am about ready to start eating them. GRRRRRR!
No, I am not in Woodland. I am near Olympia.

 

[woodlandblaze]

Oh, and I did construct roll out nest boxes so that I could rule out egg eating. I did get 3 eggs today in the nest box, but still not what I need. Again, grrrr.

 

[nakstk]

I had one of my SS molt in the spring and she was only 8.5 months. Maybe its the weather? I know its been really windy and rainy down here. Could there be a predator that might have scared them? I am just throwing out ideas.