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No eggs for 4 weeks

Discussion in 'Chicken Behaviors and Egglaying' started by bristolegghead, Sep 18, 2012.

Most Liked Posts
  1. Sep 18, 2012 #1
    bristolegghead

    bristolegghead New Egg

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    Aug 8, 2012
    Bristol UK
    Hi All

    My flock of 3 havent laid one egg in about 4 weeks. Since March we were getting on average 2 eggs every day. I'm at a loss as to why they have all stopped laying. The hens range from 1 year to 2 years of age. I am not sure if any of the following is the reason for the lack of eggs. Maybe the following 3 obeservations may be a reason?

    • I had a bad infestation of red mite back at the beginning of August. This has been sorted using DE dust,3 deep cleans and there is now no evidence of red mite and my 3 hens are healthy and active.

    • One of the flock became seriously broody 5 weeks ago and for about a month she sat and was completely immobile. I had to move her daily to ensure she was getting enough water. This broodiness stopped 2 weeks ago and she is active and looks healthy and bright again. During her time of broodiness she broke alot of eggs that the other 2 laid. Since she stopped being broody no eggs have been laid by all 3.

    • All members of the flock have moulted alot over the last couple of weeks and are now all looking very smart and preened! :)

    The flock have a good sized run, access to food and water all day. They have grit. They free range a couple of times a week.

    Anyone have any ideas why the eggs have dried up? They are all making lots of happy noises and seem content and active.

    I need them to be paying their way! They are all still eating their feed but they need to lay eggs or I will eat them for my sunday lunch lol ;)
     
  3. Sep 18, 2012 #2
    Rachey62

    Rachey62 Out Of The Brooder

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    Sep 17, 2012
    We've had Chicken for a few years now (ex bats) and they always stop laying during the moult as they need to put all there energies into feather production, 4 weeks does seem like a long time though. We usually bake eggs shells in the oven and put them back in the feed (what my gran used to do) to boost the calcium levels to help make egg production easier on them, they need A LOT of calcium, maybe you could try that. If you're feeding them a layer pellets that should supply them with everything they need but maybe the moult just took a bit more out of them?

    We also have 2 broody Silkie/Sussex crosses (6 weeks and counting this time round?!?!?) and they do stop laying but it doen't usually affect the others.

    Maybe you should just put an axe by the coop door as a warning!

    Good Luck
    Rach
     
  5. Sep 18, 2012 #3
    Den in Penn

    Den in Penn Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Dec 15, 2011
    SE Pa.
    The effects of them mites should have cleared by now.
    If there were broken eggs they may have taken to eating them.
    After a molt they may take a while to start to lay two weeks is long but not impossible.
    Don't know if any of those are the reason or reasons. Maybe adding a little protein to their diet might help.
     
  7. Sep 19, 2012 #4
    bristolegghead

    bristolegghead New Egg

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    Aug 8, 2012
    Bristol UK
    One of them laid this morning :) All being well the others will follow suit. I will put it down to the molting :) I will no longer be eating them for sunday lunch
     

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