My Flock Just quit on me!!

[GC-Raptor]

Stress and nutrition are two of the most common factors in drop-offs in laying. If the hens are getting a lot of treats, they may be slacking off their feed, causing nutritional deficits. If they are under any stress, the laying will drop off.

I've found this to be true.
Hot weather is stressful. My Hens eat less feed with high temperatures and as a result egg production drops.
I replace the afternoon Scratch Grains treat with a wet mash made from their Crumble feed and cold water. Two Tbsps dry feed per hen, a half cup for my 4 hens. I add about a half cup of water and serve immediately.

Serve in a shady spot during the summer.
I see a return to pre hot weather laying in a week or so.
It has worked for my first 2 Flocks in their second year of Laying.
My third Flock is 14 months old and I haven't seen a drop in laying from them, but I started giving them wet mash when the heat wave started.
Picture is of my second Flock. GC

 

[Isadora]

I have found that neither kids nor animals EVER read the manual about what they're "supposed to" do.

Wait, kids have a manual?!