My chickens stopped laying eggs :( Anyone know why?

[PortageGirl]

They're all different when it comes to molting... some take a few weeks, some longer. I'm sorry we can't tell you more, hens are just funny that way. If their feathers look rough and they're losing them etc, then you can try boosting the protein in their feed, either by getting some flock raiser or adding some meat scraps, fish scraps, or maybe some dry cat food (not too much of the cat food) for a few weeks. That gives them more energy for feather growing. Make sure they have plenty oyster shell for calcium esp if you go with the flock raiser... it doesn't have calcium like layer mash.

 

[db4500]

My chickens stopped laying too. They did not lay much this summer in the extreme heat. So far they have molted but only one has layed an egg and the pointed end is darker. If you press on it it just crumbles. Strange.... Anyone else had this problem?

 

[PortageGirl]

first eggs after a molt are sometimes just as odd as the first eggs they lay when pullets. It takes a little bit for their systems to get back into 'egg mode'.

 

[db4500]

I have 4 hens that stopped laying in August that I hope will start soon:/

Not sure which one has begun but I get an egg every 3-4 days and it is misshapen and rough. Is there something missing in their diet. They are eating layer feed that I fed them last year and they were so productive. They also have freely available the crushed granite and oyster shell.

 

[BirdBrain]

I have been thinking about your situation. Yesterday I came across a post about this very thing. The original poster was suggesting that a higher protien diet would help chickens recover from moult and get back to egg laying sooner. I wonder if that would help your birds. Layer ration is only usually about 16% protien. How about if you get a bag of game bird feed (high protien with out antibiotics etc) and mix it in 1:1 with your layer ration? Also you probably don't want to be feeding scratch or other treats during your experiment as these would lower your overall protien level.

This is the link to that post:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=254277

 

[aqhaktberry3]

Thanks everyone for all the help!

Birdbrain- Thanks for the link it was very helpful!

 

[aqhaktberry3]

I bought some Cow Mana and started giving it to them yesterday. I crossing my fingers that they will start laying. We bought 6 more adult laying hens on October 18th. When we brought them home they were laying, now they have almost stopped so it has to be something WE are doing. They only other thing I can think of is the water. It has a lot of iron in it.

 

[cover357]

We have iron water here in the country but it really doesn't affect them. I also add 1 tb. apple vinegar to 1 gal of water when they act luggish and in the winter. Keeps them healthy. but lately our 1 coop has almost shut down on laying. we have 19 hens and we get 2-8 eggs aday, from 19 eggs. Last year we had a problem in the alter part of the winter.. found out they were going under the nest boxes and laying them there all winter........ OMG we had about 15 -20 doz under there. all snug in the straw..
But is there anything else we can try to get them to lay... our girls will not eat crumble.

 

[aqhaktberry3]

Check out that link a few replys above. I just bought some Cow Mana that has protein in it that supposedly can help get them to laying again. It is a pellet so your hens should eat it.

 

[keysfarmgirl]

I live in Florida too, way south in the Keys. My 1 year old Americauna hen stopped laying weeks ago and thanks to this site I figured out she was molting. At first her feathers looked normal, but after a few weeks I saw the bald-ish areas and pin feathers. It has been at least 3 weeks since she laid. She has also lost a lot of weight too. She is hiding a lot from the other girls, maybe because she is vulnerable at this time. The heat and humidity down here has (STILL) been unbearable and now it is getting dark early. I am new to chickens but I am thinking this is a normal thing.