/ Register

  1. If this is your first time on BYC, we suggest you start with one of these three options:
    Raising Chickens Chicken Coops Join BYC
    If you're already a member of our community, click here to login & click here to learn what's new!

My chickens won't lay eggs

Discussion in 'Chicken Behaviors and Egglaying' started by sansanity, Dec 16, 2012.

Most Liked Posts
  1. Dec 16, 2012 #1
    sansanity

    sansanity New Egg

    1
    0
    7
    Dec 16, 2012
    Greetings all, I know this topic has been covered quite a bit, but my chickens stopped laying, not slowed down just stopped. I am not sure why but my question is how do I figure it out? I cannot watch them all day to see if they are eating them. So I am at a loss for how to figure it out. They free range in my front yard (not huge but lots of places to potentially hide eggs if they are real sneaky) and I put em in their coop everynite. Please lots of suggestions would be appreciated.

    Thanks!!
     
  3. Dec 16, 2012 #2
    sourland

    sourland Broody Magician Premium Member

    63,072
    7,117
    726
    May 3, 2009
    New Jersey
    [​IMG] Go to the top of this section. In blue click on "Why aren't my hens laying? Answers to your question." You will find the myriad of responsible factors in this sticky.
     
  5. Dec 16, 2012 #3
    Linn Bee

    Linn Bee Chillin' With My Peeps

    427
    3
    91
    Oct 30, 2011
    South-est, central-est WI
    It is possible that they have stopped laying for one of many reasons. Because of molting, because of decreasing hours of daylight, because of a change in schedule or habitat, because of disease, worms, etc., or even because of a danger - real or perceived - in or near the coop. They may have found a 'safer' place to lay their eggs that you have yet to find. It is also possible that some other animal is taking the eggs before you go to collect them. My SIL's small dog was well known for slipping in and taking the eggs one by one.

    My suggestion would be to lock the flock up in the coop for a couple of days. That way you will know if they are laying or not and they may start laying in the proper places again. Make sure that they have at least 12 hours of daylight by adding light to come on in the morning. Sixteen hours of daylight is the best day length for egg production.

    Love, Smart Red
     

BackYard Chickens is proudly sponsored by