New poultry farmers!

[Drose]

Hello we are new to chickens and are realy excited! we got a variety of chickens, 4 older hens with an unknown age that were supposedly laying. They are 3 aricanous and 1 barred rock. We've had them about 6wks and still aren't providing us with eggs? We also have 6 cochin/Frizzle mixes that are 3 mos of age 1 is a known rooster. 1 pure Frizzle same age with are foot deformity (left foot left outer talon is a stub). 2 6wk old cream buff orphingtons, 1 mixed breed 2 yr old rooster and a 4 -5mos old mixed breed rooster. They are in an 8x8 enclosed coop and are provided with a 20×13 run that is getting enlarged this spring. We have concerns about our old birds the ladies who aren't laying and our rooster who the last 2 days has stopped crowwing?

 

[Mutt Farm]

Hi! Welcome!

Sounds like you have quite a variety. If everyone is eating well and acting well, I wouldn't worry too much. At a glance, it sounds like you might be a little tight for coop space and a little heavy on roosters. Some questions come to mind: Which group came first? Which roos, which one stopped crowing? What type environment were the older hens used to? If you'll start a thread copy paste this info along with a little more detail to https://www.backyardchickens.com/newsearch?search=chicken+behaviour+and+egg+laying+ you might get more feedback. from the BYC eggsperts that monitor certain threads. Best of luck to you!

 

[trailrider330]

Welcome to the BYC flock! We are glad you joined us!

A couple thoughts:
1. Stress can definitely impact rate of lay. If your hens are still stressed from the move, tight space, or too many roosters, it can effect their rate of lay.
2. This time of year, chickens also molt. Are your hens losing feathers? If so, they may be molting and when hens molt they stop laying for a while.
3. Do you have them on a good layer feed?
4. Do they know where to lay? In other words, are you also sure that they do not have a hidden nest anywhere and that no one is eating the eggs?
5. At a certain age, rate of lay really drops and continues to drop every year afterwards. If you hens are older, they could be to the point where they still lay, but do not lay very much.

Those are some things I would start ruling out.

 

[drumstick diva]

 

[Frindizzle]

Welcome to the BYC flock!

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

 

[N F C]

Welcome to BYC, it's nice to have you join us!