My hens have stopped laying

[BFRonaLyme]

So I’m stumped! All 4 of my hens stopped laying completel! I looked around the yard and haven’t found anywhere they’re laying. They all seem to be in good health. I was told the drought and heat waves would be the cause of stress / not laying. However, it’s cooled off, plenty of rain, supplemented with vitamins / electrolytes for chickens….. and still no ,one than 1 a day if I’m lucky. They’re only 3 which I believe is too early. Only other thing that’s new is the 3 young hens I’m introducin. Any suggestions would be appreciated

 

[aart]

They’re only 3 which I believe is too early.

They are 3 years old?
Probably the annual break to molt.

How old are the new hens, in months?
When did you add them to the flock?

 

[BFRonaLyme]

They are 3 years old?
Probably the annual break to molt.

How old are the new hens, in months?
When did you add them to the flock?

Yes, the older ones are only 3yrs.

the new ones are approx. 3 months… had them since chicks / weeks old…. Been SLOWLY introducing them since - first for just a little bit at a time outside in a cage so the older can check them out, then i put the young ones in their own coop / run area right next to the older ones so they could see each other, now they’re still seperated but they free range all day together and that’s been the past 1-2 weeks.

but not laying eggs started weeks ago …
before I started introducing the new members

 

[Kgroves57]

So I’m stumped! All 4 of my hens stopped laying completel! I looked around the yard and haven’t found anywhere they’re laying. They all seem to be in good health. I was told the drought and heat waves would be the cause of stress / not laying. However, it’s cooled off, plenty of rain, supplemented with vitamins / electrolytes for chickens….. and still no ,one than 1 a day if I’m lucky. They’re only 3 which I believe is too early. Only other thing that’s new is the 3 young hens I’m introducin. Any suggestions would be appreciated

So I’m stumped! All 4 of my hens stopped laying completel! I looked around the yard and haven’t found anywhere they’re laying. They all seem to be in good health. I was told the drought and heat waves would be the cause of stress / not laying. However, it’s cooled off, plenty of rain, supplemented with vitamins / electrolytes for chickens….. and still no ,one than 1 a day if I’m lucky. They’re only 3 which I believe is too early. Only other thing that’s new is the 3 young hens I’m introducin. Any suggestions would be appreciated

 

[aart]

but not laying eggs started weeks ago …

How many weeks?
My older birds stopped laying in mid-late August.

If you free range......
Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop/run for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.

 

[Kgroves57]

My girls have stopped laying as well. I was thinking moulting. They are about 18 months old. But this morning I got a rubber egg! I am also stumped. I offer oyster shells in a separate bowl all the time. Feed 22%protein layer pellets and mix in meal worms with their food. We also have been giving apple cider vinegar in their water once every couple of weeks and I crush up egg shells to feed them back to them. Thoughts? Suggestions? They all seem healthy albeit they could possible be moulting as I do notice lots of feathers around the coop and run and a couple look pretty skaggly.

 

[StinkyAcres]

My girls have stopped laying as well. I was thinking moulting. They are about 18 months old. But this morning I got a rubber egg! I am also stumped. I offer oyster shells in a separate bowl all the time. Feed 22%protein layer pellets and mix in meal worms with their food. We also have been giving apple cider vinegar in their water once every couple of weeks and I crush up egg shells to feed them back to them. Thoughts? Suggestions? They all seem healthy albeit they could possible be moulting as I do notice lots of feathers around the coop and run and a couple look pretty skaggly.

Yep, sounds like the right time for their first molt. Treats, such as mealworms, should only be given occasionally and in small amounts.

 

[StinkyAcres]

So I’m stumped! All 4 of my hens stopped laying completel! I looked around the yard and haven’t found anywhere they’re laying. They all seem to be in good health. I was told the drought and heat waves would be the cause of stress / not laying. However, it’s cooled off, plenty of rain, supplemented with vitamins / electrolytes for chickens….. and still no ,one than 1 a day if I’m lucky. They’re only 3 which I believe is too early. Only other thing that’s new is the 3 young hens I’m introducin. Any suggestions would be appreciated

Have you noticed more dropped feathers in the coop than normal? Paler combs and eating less feed? If so, they're molting.
You're right, 3 years old is early to stop laying. Many hens still lay at 7+ years.

 

[aart]

But this morning I got a rubber egg! Thoughts? Suggestions?

Not unusual to get a few funky eggs as production slows/stops before the molt.

 

[BFRonaLyme]

Have you noticed more dropped feathers in the coop than normal? Paler combs and eating less feed? If so, they're molting.
You're right, 3 years old is early to stop laying. Many hens still lay at 7+ years.

Combs look great - nice and red, same eating habits and range as normal, only some dropped feathers ….. I’ve locked them up in the coop for the night and plan on trying the “reset” on them. I did put the fake egg in the box at the beginning and that created a few eggs… but once I removed it, they stopped again.
also, cleaned the coop out and inspected them … everything looks great except no eggs…