My chickens seem to eat less and lay less eggs

[Quyen Le]

My chickens seem to eat less and stop following me when I bring food to the feeder. They lay less eggs too. I wonder if anything I need to check? I just added 3 hens to my flock last Thursday.

 

[Lacrystol]

Did you keep the three separated for at least a month before putting them in with your others? Rule of thumb, keep new commer's separated but visiable to the older flock. Perhaps it's stress, do they feel skinny? How are the older vs Newer ones getting along?


Less they eat only makes sense on less laying. If it's stress it will take awhile before they start laying again. What about the weather, the change of weather can have an affect as well.