No Eggs for 2+ weeks , northern arizona, Prescott

[lsobel]

Hey y'all,

We have 4 hens.
We live in Prescott AZ where it gets to be freezing at night and 50's - 60's during the day. They were free ranging around our yard most of the summer to keep them out of our fenced in garden. Once we pulled out the garden for winter, we moved the run from the coop to the fenced in garden so they live between in the coop and our fenced in raised bed garden (about 40' x 20') so there's plenty of room for them to "free range" still. Once we started to do this, they stopped laying eggs. They're getting water but we've been moving it around to keep it from freezing at night. They get regular chicken food from costco. I tried putting a couple golf balls in the bed where they would lay their eggs. We've tried closing the run and keeping them in the coop for a couple days to rule out if they were burying their eggs or laying them someplace where we couldn't see them (not really any places to hide them though). We have a red heat lamp in the coop. we get about 11 hours of daylight. what should we do?

Thanks

 

[sourland]

You don't mention age. It is very common for year old or older birds to take a break in the laying cycle this time of year. They generally molt, regain condition and then restart laying as the day length increases. They will lay again.

 

[chickenlady25XD]

IDK About Arizona but I am Having the same problem in Wisconsin

 

[lsobel]

You don't mention age. It is very common for year old or older birds to take a break in the laying cycle this time of year. They generally molt, regain condition and then restart laying as the day length increases. They will lay again.

Well, thats good news.. 2 of the 4 started molting around the same time. They'll be 2 years old this March. The other 2 haven't molted. Is it commone for them to be on the same cycle?

 

[lsobel]

Well, thats good news.. 2 of the 4 started molting around the same time. They'll be 2 years old this March. The other 2 haven't molted. Is it commone for them to be on the same cycle?

You would think that mother nature wouldn't have them molt when it's starting to get cold..

 

[ChickenJV12]

I'm having the same issue in West MI. It's because of shortening days and molting for me and probably for you too.

 

[ChickenJV12]

Well, thats good news.. 2 of the 4 started molting around the same time. They'll be 2 years old this March. The other 2 haven't molted. Is it commone for them to be on the same cycle?

Yeah, your chickens are 1.5 years old and that's typically when they start to molt. Your other 2 that haven't started to molt are probably getting ready.

 

[sourland]

Well, thats good news.. 2 of the 4 started molting around the same time. They'll be 2 years old this March. The other 2 haven't molted. Is it commone for them to be on the same cycle?

Yes. I believe the shortening day length and reduced hormone level may help initiate the molt.

You would think that mother nature wouldn't have them molt when it's starting to get cold..

It does seem a bit odd, but I believe that cooler weather facilitates feather regrowth.