New to BYC chickens stopped laying

[MicahAnn]

Hello! We recently got 7 one year old hens for our backyard. When we brought them home they laid 5-6 eggs a day for about a week. Eight days into have the hens they stopped laying all together for the day. Then now we get 1-2 eggs a day. Can they have delayed stress from the move? I have them on an all organic feed, they have fresh water and seem to really enjoy their coop and the yard. Help!

 

[Mvan42]

Could be stress. Could be that they are ready to molt? (Have you seen any feathers missing?) Could be at the end of their cycle and beginning a new one.

 

[pekin queen]

probably stress. or are they moulting?

 

[kcan2]

My little bantam hen's record for not laying was 6mo, almost to the day! Associated with a move. Right now she is molting, so she is working on feathers instead of eggs. It seems like their bodies can do one or the other at a time, but not both

 

[aart]

Hello! We recently got 7 one year old hens for our backyard. When we brought them home they laid 5-6 eggs a day for about a week. Eight days into have the hens they stopped laying all together for the day. Then now we get 1-2 eggs a day. Can they have delayed stress from the move? I have them on an all organic feed, they have fresh water and seem to really enjoy their coop and the yard. Help!

Welcome to BYC! @MicahAnn
Could be the change in feed taking effect.
What brand/model of organic feed you are using?
Is it a pellet, crumble, or cracked grain formulation?

How big is the 'yard'?
They may have found another place to lay rather than using the coop nests.
Do you have a run?

 

[MicahAnn]

My little bantam hen's record for not laying was 6mo, almost to the day! Associated with a move. Right now she is molting, so she is working on feathers instead of eggs. It seems like their bodies can do one or the other at a time, but not both

Thank you! They were molting before they came so I wasn’t sure if that was it but now that it’s growing in I’m guessing that could be the case!

 

[MicahAnn]

Welcome to BYC! @MicahAnn
Could be the change in feed taking effect.
What brand/model of organic feed you are using?
Is it a pellet, crumble, or cracked grain formulation?

How big is the 'yard'?
They may have found another place to lay rather than using the coop nests.
Do you have a run?

Thank you so much! I’m using a recipe from my cousin who has had chickens for years. It’s bulk chicken grains etc from Azure.
I’ve searched all over the yard for the eggs but I’ll be sure to keep an eye out in case. I’m not sure on the square footage but it’s about 2 car lengths long and 1 car lengths wide.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Thank you so much! I’m using a recipe from my cousin who has had chickens for years. It’s bulk chicken grains etc from Azure.
I’ve searched all over the yard for the eggs but I’ll be sure to keep an eye out in case. I’m not sure on the square footage but it’s about 2 car lengths long and 1 car lengths wide.

FWIW, a car is about 14 to 15 foot long typically - so 14 x 28 = 392, 15 x 30 is 450 sq ft. Between 400 and 450 sq ft, approx. Roughly the size of the typical two car garage.

Great advice, good questions, above. I have nothing to add to those.

 

[aart]

I’m using a recipe from my cousin who has had chickens for years. It’s bulk chicken grains etc from Azure.

Would you provide details on the recipe, and a link to the Azure chicken grain product you use?

They were molting before they came

If they were already molting before they came, they wouldn't be laying at all.
Curious why they would molt in spring/summer.
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[MicahAnn]

Here’s the recipe she sent me
NOTES

Chicken Feed made Jan:

54 servinas

Oats -56 cups https://www.azurestandard.com/shop/...hulls-animal-feed-organic/11712?package=GP034

wheat - 56 cUPS https://www.azurestandard.com/shop/...-wheat-animal-feed-organic/7134?package=GP073

Field Peas - 24 Cups https://www.azurestandard.com/shop/...-peas-animal-feed-organic/17274?package=GP559

Barley 16 cups https://www.azurestandard.com/shop/...arley-animal-feed-organic/11698?package=GP168

Milo - 32 cups https://www.azurestandard.com/shop/...rghum-animal-feed-organic/24934?package=GP847

Black Oil sunflower feeds - 32 CUpS
All mixed together in a tub. And I’m in Idaho. It has snowed, rained and been cold on and off the last month.