No eggs in over a week...

[MrsKris]

So, 3 of my pullets have started laying in the past couple of months. They were laying on a somewhat regular schedule. When hurricane Irma passed our area, we had a cool snap for about 3 days. Since then, I haven't gotten any eggs! During that time, I ran out of their regular layer pellets and borrowed some from a friend til I could get to the feed store. They have been back on their regular food for over a week now and our weather is back to normal with days in the 80's and nights in the 60's. Could either of these things be the cause of the lack of eggs and when can I expect them to lay again?

 

[JedJackson]

Either could be the cause but there are other possibilities including stress and shortened daylight hours. There's not much you can do about weather or changing feed but wait. As for stress, you would know better than us if there has been a change in routine or environment. But I suspect it's the shortened days that is the cause-- chickens need 12 to 14 hours of daylight to lay well. The common solution to this problem is to hook up lighting in the coop and leave it on a couple of hours in the morning before sunrise so they have 14 hours of light total from both artificial and natural sources.

 

[MrsKris]

Either could be the cause but there are other possibilities including stress and shortened daylight hours. There's not much you can do about weather or changing feed but wait. As for stress, you would know better than us if there has been a change in routine or environment. But I suspect it's the shortened days that is the cause-- chickens need 12 to 14 hours of daylight to lay well. The common solution to this problem is to hook up lighting in the coop and leave it on a couple of hours in the morning before sunrise so they have 14 hours of light total from both artificial and natural sources.

I have had the girls separated from the roos since they started laying. I would rotate the rooster out every so often, but have had them rooster free since they stopped laying just in case he was stressing them. We are getting at least 12 hours of daylight here still. I even deep cleaned the chicken house and put in a nice layer of hay! I check several times a day and get so sad to find empty nest boxes

 

[JedJackson]

Stress can come from many sources, but if you're not hearing them squawking and raising a ruckus then it's probably not that because they'd make noise if a predator was harassing them.

Another possibility if that you have egg eaters on your hand or some other animal is stealing the eggs, but you'd usually have signs of this with shells left behind and egg on the pullets' faces. Humans thieves can be more difficult to detect but it's best to eliminate that possibility before considering other causes.

If they are otherwise healthy then I think your only option is to wait, keep a close eye on them and maybe try a light inside the coop.

 

[MrsKris]

Stress can come from many sources, but if you're not hearing them squawking and raising a ruckus then it's probably not that because they'd make noise if a predator was harassing them.

Another possibility if that you have egg eaters on your hand or some other animal is stealing the eggs, but you'd usually have signs of this with shells left behind and egg on the pullets' faces. Humans thieves can be more difficult to detect but it's best to eliminate that possibility before considering other causes.

If they are otherwise healthy then I think your only option is to wait, keep a close eye on them and maybe try a light inside the coop.

I doubt it's a predator as my roos run loose and we have a pretty good guard dog. No signs of eggs being eaten. I'm hoping that the cold snap threw them out of kilter. I will wait with crossed fingers!

 

[JedJackson]

I doubt it's a predator as my roos run loose and we have a pretty good guard dog. No signs of eggs being eaten. I'm hoping that the cold snap threw them out of kilter. I will wait with crossed fingers!

I think you've covered your bases, then. You'll probably be getting eggs again any day now. Good luck!

 

[MrsKris]

I think you've covered your bases, then. You'll probably be getting eggs again any day now. Good luck!

I hope so! Thank you!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

What breeds are they? Not all hens lay consistently. Many take breaks, some due to stress others just because. Generally if it's from a stressor than they will resume in about 1-4 weeks.

 

[MrsKris]

What breeds are they? Not all hens lay consistently. Many take breaks, some due to stress others just because. Generally if it's from a stressor than they will resume in about 1-4 weeks.

I've got 2 white Leghorns and 1silkie that were laying. They laid like clockwork up until this: 3 days for the WLs then a day off and 2 days for the silkie then a day off.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I've got 2 white Leghorns and 1silkie that were laying. They laid like clockwork up until this: 3 days for the WLs then a day off and 2 days for the silkie then a day off.

Than I would expect them to resume in the next few weeks.