No eggs in months

[MamaEarth]

Hi All,
i have about 8 hens, 1 baby hen and 1 rooster... I have not had a single egg in months..... I have just had a hen have a baby and another one has just finished being broodie(no chicks though) and one is molting but I should be getting some eggs, should I? Im in Queensland, Australia.... What time of year do chickens go off the lay? It's been so long since we got any eggs I have no idea why.... We feed them chicken grain and scraps in the morning in there large enclosure and then let them out to free range from about noon.... it is getting dry here atm, what else could I be gving them to supplement there feed? Maybe they arent getting enough protein or something...

 

[Acre4Me]

Length of daylight affects laying. So, if n Southern Hemisphere are you going towards winter/decreasing daylight?

molting and broody will generally keep a bird from laying. Being a momma hen also keeps them from laying until the momma hormones wane somewhere around 2-6 weeks after chicks show up.

 

[MamaEarth]

yes we are in autumn atm and heading into winter so the days are shortening in daylight.... but it feels like we haven;t seen any eggs for months and months... Im wondering if it might also have anything to do with their food intake

 

[aart]

Im wondering if it might also have anything to do with their food intake

It certainly could.
What all and how exactly are you feeding them?

but it feels like we haven;t seen any eggs for months and months.

Chances are they are molting now, but, might be time for some exams:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

 

[Acre4Me]

Make sure they have enough protein and scraps aren’t more than 10% of intake. The other thing that impacts laying us water intake. Not drinking enough, eggs will be the first thing to stop occurring.

You can put out pans of fresh water that is cool and they may drink from those. You can try some electrolytes in their water (they sell packets for chickens or there are chicken specific recipes in here... @aart and @oldhenlikesdogs might have a recipe). But, when offering electrolytes, still offer plain water.

you can make a feed mash for them to eat. My flock loves wet feed and they get extra water too. Just mix water and feed to a consistency they like (mine likes it like pancake batter) and I sprinkle some seeds or scrambled egg on top.

 

[MamaEarth]

Thank you all, I will definitely be looking into their feed and maybe put a few extra water pans for them.... and the feed mash... thanks again