My hens are on strike!

[Hildy Johnson]

What do you do when your hens stop producing?
I have 2 Laced Wyandottes, 2 Buff Orpingtons, and a Barred Rock. A few weeks ago a coyote got in the yard and badly hurt one of the LWs, but she has made a good recovery. Since then we’ve been much more careful about letting them out of the coop, only when we can watch them, so they’re not getting as much yard time as they used to. And they also started dwindling in production, from 4-5 eggs a day to about 1 every 3 days. They are eating and drinking plenty. In my fevered imagination I think they are protesting their reduced exercise time. Any suggestions?

 

[aart]

Many things can reduce production....mostly due to stress...
... from heat, sudden confinement, predator attack.

So, yes, they may be 'protesting', but not consciously...
...the change in their environment has affected their bodies.

How big is coop, in feet by feet?
Pics would help.

Do they have a predator proof run?
If so, how big is that?

Where in this world are you located?
Climate is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, then it's always there!

 

[sawilliams]

Stress from an attack cam take 2-4 weeks or more to recover from. Add the stress of a injured chicken possibly missing from the coop during recovery then reintroduced ants the sudden change in schedule due to safety. It just sounds like your girls will need more time to readjust.

 

[Hildy Johnson]

Our run is about 32 square feet. We are in Kansas and yes, we have been having quite a heat wave. Several days in a row of 95+ highs.

 

[Hildy Johnson]

 

[TheYLWFlock]

With 5 birds, your run should be at least 50 square feet. How big is the inside of the coop? It should be at least 20 square feet. The amount of chickens in that size of run is overcrowded and that could be leading to more stress, resulting in low egg production.

 

[Lrosell31]

Mine are on strike also. I think it’s from the heat. I need to make more shade for them. They roam around my backyard all day.

 

[cmom]

I have a few that are starting to molt already. They don't usually start until August. I'm getting fewer eggs too.