My chickens stopped laying

[prairiehousewife]

Hello,
New to all this chicken raising stuff. We got our 10 chickens a little over a month ago. They were laying 8-10 a day, but we're down to anywhere from 2-5 these days. I heard from someone else that chickens don't like change. The chickens were given to us by a neighbor, so there was a change in location, coop, habits and feed. We let them run around outside, they kept them locked up. Does this affect their laying? What can be done to get them laying at full speed again? Also, is it a bad thing to keep them penned up all the time?

 

[sonew123]

you better look around where they are running outside. I bet you have a hidden stock pile of them somewhere?

 

[prairiehousewife]

I thought about that, but I've had them locked up for a week or so, and still only about 5 eggs max.

 

[sonew123]

moulting? umm...broody? how old are they?

 

[prairiehousewife]

MMM...I think they're 1-2 yrs old. The guy we got them from told my DH (typical...like he ever takes care of the chickens!) who can't really remember. What sorta "broody behaviors" should I look for? They seem to be laying every other day. Could it be the weather? It's been cold and rainy. What do they look like when they're moulting? I've noticed a lot of feather flying around the coop and their yard in the last couple days.

 

[Ridgerunner]

If they are broody, they should be sitting on the nest 23-1/2 hours a day, including all night. A broody hen should not be laying at all.

You asked several questions so I'll offer you some homework reading. Hope these help.

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

Mississippi State - describes molting
http://msucares.com/poultry/management/poultry_feathers.html

Kansas State - feather loss
http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/library/lvstk2/mf2308.pdf