No eggs since September

[RiDaGeckoGuy]

My hens laid from summer of 2023 when my first ones were capable of laying and they laid until May of 2024 after that they slowed down in the summer and only laid a little in July and a little in September. May I add I have some hens that I hatched last spring that have never even laid their first egg. 200sqft for 8 hens all of laying age half are the parents of the other half, no roosters. They are feed egg layer pellets and scratch plus table scraps and sometimes I dump the lawnmower bucket in there for them. They have a 9ft long x5ft wide x6ft tall coop with 3 roosting bars and 6 nesting boxes on each wall. They’re healthy and happy but I don’t get eggs what could I do. (Here’s some photos of what egg production looked like in 2024)

 

[LaFleche]

egg layer pellets and scratch plus table scraps and sometimes I dump the lawnmower bucket in there for them.

How much protein does the layer feed provide?

Adding scratch and table scraps and gras clippings will lower the percentage of protein significantly. I would stop feeding any extras and get them some all flock with 20-22% protein and provide crushed oyster shells and granite grit free choice.

 

[RiDaGeckoGuy]

How much protein does the layer feed provide?

Adding scratch and table scraps and gras clippings will lower the percentage of protein significantly. I would stop feeding any extras and get them some all flock with 20-22% protein and provide crushed oyster shells and granite grit free choice.

They get 20% protein egg layer but I am getting all flock tomorrow instead of the egg layer because I feel like upping the protein may help

 

[Sic]

They're not getting enough protein. Unless your table scraps are meat, you'd be better off giving them only the layer feed as every additional thing you added will reduce the protein level to a point that they cannot lay.

All of my hens and pullets have been laying through winter one egg each day - 2 dozen eggs per day from 25 of them - they are dual purpose heritage and I feed them 24-30% protein and free range. Chickens are omnivores.

 

[Toothpick]

I'm kinda in the same boat and I'm starting to think it's the protein as well. 12-14 per day down to 4 per day for the past 3-4 months. I chalked it up to Winter and shorter days but they should be picking up now.

 

[Ajp23]

I agree with upping the protein, eliminating the scraps and making sure they have access to oyster shell. Good luck!

 

[OrpingtonManiac]

I have the same problem
They are on 16% protein growers feed, with oyster shell on the side, and occasionally meat scraps at a treat.

 

[RiDaGeckoGuy]

Would beef fat have any extra protein, I usually give regected mice to the guineas should I give them to the hens instead

 

[Ridgerunner]

That just doesn't sound right. Not all pullets lay through their first winter. Production breeds often do (not always but often) but decorative breeds often do not. Practically all hens molt their second fall/winter and stop laying. Many production breeds return to laying after the molt is over but some will wait for the longer days of spring. For some the molt is over on a little over a month but for some the molt can take four or five months. You only have four of each, pullets and hens, so I can see why you may not be getting a lot but in Oklahoma I'd expect you to be getting some.

I'll admit I am in the minority on here. I do not suggest that you need to up the protein if they are laying, if they are not laying, if they are molting, or if they are just breathing. To me, protein is more about the size of the eggs laid than whether they are laying or not or even how many they are laying. That's based on my experiences when growing up and my experiences in keeping them. If you want to increase protein go for it. As long as you don't get ridiculous it will not hurt them. What was your productivity back when they were laying? Was the feed and other things the same protein content?

I'll go through my normal sequence as to why you may not be getting eggs. First is the molt, even out of season. I don't think that is your problem, certainly not for all of them.

Are they hiding a nest or nests from you. They can be really creative in that, even in coops and runs. It sounds like you keep them confined at all times so they are not hiding nests while out free ranging. You might try a good search or the coop and run but by now there should be a lot of eggs. It may be hard to hide.

There are diseases that can stop egg laying. If that is the case they should be showing other symptoms. If they are acting healthy I doubt this is your problem.

That pretty much leaves, is something getting the eggs? You mentioned that production dropped last July, during what should have been a highly production time. Many critters that eat eggs leave signs: eggshells or wet spots. In Oklahoma the critters that do not leave signs include snakes, canines, and humans. There may be more but those are the ones I know.

I doubt it is snakes. They are not active in the cold season. Typically a snake eats a few eggs and then disappears for a few days while it digests them before coming back for more. I'd expect swings in productivity from day to day if it were a snake, not consistency.

If it were a coyote or fox I'd expect them to be more interested in the hens than the eggs so not likely to be them. Does a dog have access? Sometimes they will eat eggs and not bother a hen.

That leaves humans. That does not always mean a stranger, especially if it is this consistent. Most of the time on here it has been someone the owner knows it has been a practical joke, not just theft. I don't know what humans have access.

If you want to determine if they are actually laying, look at their vents. A hen that is not laying has a small tight dry vent. If they are laying, even a couple of times a week, the vent should be large, soft, pink, and moist. If you ever see the difference it is obvious.

I don't know what is going on. I find it strange that you haven't seen an egg since September in Oklahoma. Not with that flock. You'd think that f something were getting them a few would slip through. It could be that they just haven't cranked back up laying this spring, but the drop in July doesn't feel right.

 

[Slothinc]

That just doesn't sound right. Not all pullets lay through their first winter. Production breeds often do (not always but often) but decorative breeds often do not. Practically all hens molt their second fall/winter and stop laying. Many production breeds return to laying after the molt is over but some will wait for the longer days of spring. For some the molt is over on a little over a month but for some the molt can take four or five months. You only have four of each, pullets and hens, so I can see why you may not be getting a lot but in Oklahoma I'd expect you to be getting some.

I'll admit I am in the minority on here. I do not suggest that you need to up the protein if they are laying, if they are not laying, if they are molting, or if they are just breathing. To me, protein is more about the size of the eggs laid than whether they are laying or not or even how many they are laying. That's based on my experiences when growing up and my experiences in keeping them. If you want to increase protein go for it. As long as you don't get ridiculous it will not hurt them. What was your productivity back when they were laying? Was the feed and other things the same protein content?

I'll go through my normal sequence as to why you may not be getting eggs. First is the molt, even out of season. I don't think that is your problem, certainly not for all of them.

Are they hiding a nest or nests from you. They can be really creative in that, even in coops and runs. It sounds like you keep them confined at all times so they are not hiding nests while out free ranging. You might try a good search or the coop and run but by now there should be a lot of eggs. It may be hard to hide.

There are diseases that can stop egg laying. If that is the case they should be showing other symptoms. If they are acting healthy I doubt this is your problem.

That pretty much leaves, is something getting the eggs? You mentioned that production dropped last July, during what should have been a highly production time. Many critters that eat eggs leave signs: eggshells or wet spots. In Oklahoma the critters that do not leave signs include snakes, canines, and humans. There may be more but those are the ones I know.

I doubt it is snakes. They are not active in the cold season. Typically a snake eats a few eggs and then disappears for a few days while it digests them before coming back for more. I'd expect swings in productivity from day to day if it were a snake, not consistency.

If it were a coyote or fox I'd expect them to be more interested in the hens than the eggs so not likely to be them. Does a dog have access? Sometimes they will eat eggs and not bother a hen.

That leaves humans. That does not always mean a stranger, especially if it is this consistent. Most of the time on here it has been someone the owner knows it has been a practical joke, not just theft. I don't know what humans have access.

If you want to determine if they are actually laying, look at their vents. A hen that is not laying has a small tight dry vent. If they are laying, even a couple of times a week, the vent should be large, soft, pink, and moist. If you ever see the difference it is obvious.

I don't know what is going on. I find it strange that you haven't seen an egg since September in Oklahoma. Not with that flock. You'd think that f something were getting them a few would slip through. It could be that they just haven't cranked back up laying this spring, but the drop in July doesn't feel right.

My first thought too was that something strange was going on, that seems very abnormal. @Ridgerunner covered lots of possibilities, I would not be surprised if it is one of these.