Need some insight.

[Adalida]

Lots of good advice here already but I wanted to ask if you free range? My girls have been slacking off on eggs lately, or so I thought, until yesterday we found a dozen eggs hidden in the hay bales. Apparently they've decided to skip the nest boxes and make their own nests around the yard...any chance yours are doing the same?

 

[rollaghens]

mine aren't free range, the coop and the run are all fenced in. There are way to many predators in my area, coyotes, eagles, owls, fox... to many of my neighbors keep loosing there flock so I have had good luck keeping mine fenced. Plan is to make the run about 500sqft bigger next spring.

 

[lazy gardener]

Have you checked them for mites? Give the light more time to work. How many watts you using???

 

[Mrs. K]

Is there a possibility that the older birds are older than you think? Older birds due tend to quit with the dark days of winter.

Personally, I would expect a little set back by the introduction of the juveniles, but not months of few eggs. I think I would begin to cull them, making room for chicks in the spring. They just don't seem to be that good of layers. Diet might have some influence, but not the amount that you are experiencing.

Mrs K

 

[aart]

Lighting won't necessarily stop molting.
Agrees ...higher protein feed.

My ~18 month old hens are almost all molting right now, and not laying......
....but the 9mo pullets are getting up to speed, one just started laying yesterday and I think there's still one or two not laying yet.
But I am not using light this year.