No eggs since September

[RiDaGeckoGuy]

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.

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 egg production before they stopped was one a day maybe every other day for some pet hen, then in July and September only my Dominique and buff Orpington were laying one a day

 

[RiDaGeckoGuy]

I just vent checked all my hens and their vents were light colored and small except my buff Orpington who was always my best layer and mom who raised over half my flock and some of my friends flocks. But that leaves the question, where are my eggs going?

 

[RiDaGeckoGuy]

Gave the girls some catfish from my breakfast seasoned with garlic, cayan pepper, and a little black pepper.

 

[McChooky]

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.

I'm getting 6-8 eggs a day since the days are getting longer (16%) Never fed mine 20% but they free range too. Reducing the size of my flock last summer caused an early molt so I didn't my usual number of eggs last fall or winter.They all stopped laying in January but are laying now(4 are older girls and 8 are 2-3 yr olds)

 

[Sic]

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

Just FYI - Protein is required to produce the yolk and albumin, if a hen doesn't consume enough protein she will cease laying, and over time the overall health of the hen will be affected by a low protein diet.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Just FYI - Protein is required to produce the yolk and albumin, if a hen doesn't consume enough protein she will cease laying, and over time the overall health of the hen will be affected by a low protein diet.

I fully understand that. For thousands of years, even after they were domesticated, chickens forged for practically all they ate and did not go extinct. My father, just like his father and many many other small farmers through history, never fed his chickens except if snow was on the ground. The chickens foraged for what they needed. They laid a lot of eggs and raised a lot of chicks. Some of them were breeds popular today.

I understand to many people chickens are pets and deserve to be pampered. I understand to maximize production you sometimes need to feed "special". But, based on my experience, cramming them full of protein is not something really required unless you are breeding for show or for meat.

If you feed high amounts of protein the eggs should be larger. With high production hens a lot of protein can contribute to extra yolks being released in the same day, which leads to double yolked eggs or soft shelled eggs if two are laid the same day. This can contribute to prolapse, being eggbound, or internal laying. My hens never have those issues though they on rare occasions lay an occasional double yolker.

I understand they need a balanced diet of the various nutrients to lay eggs and live a healthy life. If you want to feed them a lot of protein go for it. They are yours. But I don't consider an unusually high percentage of protein to be that balanced. I understand I am in the minority on this forum.

 

[RiDaGeckoGuy]

Good news y’all, my free range hen I hatched out last spring has been very vocal all day and is sitting in the grass next to me fluffed up like she’s about to lay

 

[Sic]

I fully understand that. For thousands of years, even after they were domesticated, chickens forged for practically all they ate and did not go extinct. My father, just like his father and many many other small farmers through history, never fed his chickens except if snow was on the ground. The chickens foraged for what they needed. They laid a lot of eggs and raised a lot of chicks. Some of them were breeds popular today.

I understand to many people chickens are pets and deserve to be pampered. I understand to maximize production you sometimes need to feed "special". But, based on my experience, cramming them full of protein is not something really required unless you are breeding for show or for meat.

If you feed high amounts of protein the eggs should be larger. With high production hens a lot of protein can contribute to extra yolks being released in the same day, which leads to double yolked eggs or soft shelled eggs if two are laid the same day. This can contribute to prolapse, being eggbound, or internal laying. My hens never have those issues though they on rare occasions lay an occasional double yolker.

I understand they need a balanced diet of the various nutrients to lay eggs and live a healthy life. If you want to feed them a lot of protein go for it. They are yours. But I don't consider an unusually high percentage of protein to be that balanced. I understand I am in the minority on this forum.

Well to state what should be obvious - a hen that is free range foraging will consume insects, snails, slugs and other high protein creatures, hence, why it is not really necessary for a farmer to feed them a high protein diet. For a backyard chicken with limited access to natural forage, one must, at a minimum, provide enough of the required amino acid/protein for egg production and life. It's not that complicated.

 

[RiDaGeckoGuy]

Well to state what should be obvious - a hen that is free range foraging will consume insects, snails, slugs and other high protein creatures, hence, why it is not really necessary for a farmer to feed them a high protein diet. For a backyard chicken with limited access to natural forage, one must, at a minimum, provide enough of the required amino acid/protein for egg production and life. It's not that complicated.

Yes but that means it’s not some sickness or something

 

[Bodhisan]

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.

This caught my eye, as I give my four hens huge amounts of grass clippings in the summer - with no drop in egg production, and they don't get any grass when it's dry, and the eggs keeping coming at the same rate. However, it made me wonder about protein content in grass, and from the first search I did just now, it claims that grass has between 16-28% protein, with variables, of course.