My girls have COMPLETELY stopped laying! WHY? What can I do?

[westexcruzer]

I thought mine had quit laying awhile back before I found out I had two chicken snakes. Jake

 

[highcountrychickens]

Quote:
What kind of pepper - cayenne?

This is fascinating!

 

[jerseygirl1]

I have this saved in case I may need it
Go to the 9th post down

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=56058

 

[Hooterville]

My girls have really cut back too. I'm thinking its a combo of less light and molting. I have about 40 layers and they are giving me less than a half dozen a day.

I hope its not a snake--- I have seen a 6 ft black snake in one our buildings. Do black snakes like eggs? He has been here for years--maybe he just found them.

 

[hen-thusiast]

Quote:
Could be. Certain breeds of snake love eggs. That is one big snake!

Between less lighting, one molting and one not laying yet, we're getting 1-3 eggs a day from our eight. Hopefully it's just less light and molting. Good luck!

 

[Sunny Side Up]

Quote:
Has anyone tried this with their flock? What were your results? Did you follow these directions exactly or did you improvise? Ever since I've read this I've wondered if it's one of those old-timey chicken-keeper tales that really work or one that would be best forgotten?

 

[Overeasyplz]

When we moved it scared the birds and no eggs for a few days..then a couple eggs later. It is down time and really cold here so I don't ask too much of them, but they have settled in nicely.

 

[georgialee]

Mine ate some mushrooms from the yard and stopped laying for several weeks... don't know if it was the mushrooms or what. Maybe that's a possibility?

 

[greathorse]

Its winter we are only 30 days from the shortest day of the year. It is time for them to quit unless you give them artificial light. They can range all the way from decent winter layers to sporadic to "not doin it" Yours may fall in the latter category.
What breeds are they?

 

[The Zoo]

When I moved one of my girls from inside (she was recuperating from a nasty cut) she waited 10+ days to start laying again. I think it was the switch from indoors to outdoors and the change in temperature. They have nature-sensitive body systems which, if you think about it, is pretty cool.

Can you buy some eggs at a farmers market? That's what I'm going to do when I need more than what I get (like for Thanksgiving and holiday baking).