My chickens stopped laying. Should I kill them?

[speckledhen]

Hens are not machines. Egg production varies depending on condition of the environment and the birds themselves. I have hens who are four and a half years old still laying several eggs a week. They slow down during the molt, during extreme heat and extreme cold as well as decreased daylight.

 

[darkmatter]

Quote:
I do convert the older hens into chicken soup when I think they've stopped laying, the books say how to tell by the condition of the vent and appearance of the comb, etc. when a chicken is "done laying". But..............I could never get it right, even a 10 year old hen I butchered had eggs in the internal assembly line. Chickens free ranging will be either hiding their eggs or merely taking a break from egg-laying while they molt or if a stress situation like a predator attack, lack of water, food, or a new habitat will put a temporary halt to the eggs. So---------if you really want more eggs, have more chickens, and remember it will wax and wane with the seasons and other factors.

 

[ranchhand]

Quote:
Both of those are good ideas. Are they still getting layer feed?

 

[Ridgerunner]

These links may help you as you can see things we cannot, but I'd bet a lot of your money and a small bit of mine that they are hiding them on you.

Virginia Tech – Stopped Laying
http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/2902/2902-1097/2902-1097.pdf

Florida – Stopped Laying –
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/ps/ps02900.pdf

Missing eggs thread
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=190121

Hens vary individually. Averages don't mean a lot unless you have enough to average. But, on the average, hens lay about 15% less after each adult molt. They may be molting due to some type of stress, but probably not in New Hampshire this time of year.

Chickens are creatures of habit. Change can upset them, even if it is going from a run to free ranging. They may be taking a short break to get used to the change. I doubt it, but maybe. Since they are now free ranging, maybe an egg eating predator now has access to their eggs? Several different things could be going on, but I think they are hiding them on you.

Good luck! This is not always an easy one to solve.

 

[Penturner]

The way I understand it hens do not just shut off egg production and that is the end of it. their production will gradually over years simply decline. A complete shut down of an entire flock? Something else is going on. they either hid the eggs and you have not found them yet. or something int he changes has caused them to stop laying. But I am completely certain that a complete stop in egg production is not an indication your hens have stopped laying for life.

 

[Jody]

Quote:
I am DH

 

[AHappychick]

I would not cull them they have plenty of egg laying in them. either its mites, molting, or they are hiding eggs. stop the freeranging for a week and you will see eggs again. when was their last molt? I have some molting right now about the same age

ETA you could still get a few young pullets to add to your egg production

 

[Redcatcher]

It might not even be the hens themselves but some critter is finding and eating them. Skunks, raccoons, 'possums, some snakes, rats, weasels, crows (the list is long) could be finding them, before you are. Whenever the local skunk makes the rounds on my property, there is not an egg to be found anywhere and they do not think twice about going into the chicken house to get them. One day there are eggs everywhere and the next day, none. Not only do the eat them on the spot but they can roll them to their dens.

 

[Tamrajh]

How do you tell if chickens have mites? What do you do about it?

 

[beachchickie]

Check for mites immediately. There are several good pictures on this website and on others of what the vent area looks like and how to treat. chickenkeeping.com has some great pics.