No eggs this morning

[Susancrotwell]

It is very odd but I didn’t have even one egg at 11am this morning. I have 5 hens, four are red sex links. I normally get 4 or even 5 eggs a day. Rarely I will only have 3. Today there were none! I don’t think a predator got into the pen unless it was something very small. I do have a spot where my chicken wire popped loose at the bottom and I have been trying to get my husband to fix it for months. A dog got into the pen where the wire was loose about two weeks ago and killed one of my red hens . My husband then promised he would fix it but that hasn’t happened. If I was able, I would just fix it myself. The day it happened I barricaded that spot of the wire with a piece of tin, a long 1x4, a ladder, a broom handle to prop the tin up against the wire, a wheelbarrow and another piece of ten on top, then stuffed the empty spaces with tree branches so nothing could get to loose wire! It looks ridiculous but I didn’t have any other resources!

Does anyone have any idea why all 5 of my girls would not have laid an egg on the same morning?

 

[cmom]

Most birds do take a day or two off every week. If it's just one day I wouldn't worry too much. I have one coop where the birds were all laying well then all stopped suddenly. Its been just over a week and no eggs. I went out yesterday a few times to see if there were any eggs in their nest boxes but there weren't any. If there are any rats around they may steal eggs or snakes. My birds did recently go through their yearly molt and there are some not laying again yet but that is expected. Some birds take the winters off. I looked for a place where mine may have hid the eggs but didn't find any. Good luck and have fun...

 

[STACEYH]

Shorter daylight hours, they tend to slow down and/or stop laying. Molting is another reason they would do this. I have 15 laying pullets yesterday only 4 eggs. Most likely it is just the time of year but watch out for poopy butts or lethargic acting girls.

 

[Susancrotwell]

Thanks so much for the advice. I actually checked the nests a few hours later and had three eggs! Just one when I checked this morning so they are probably laying later than normal due to the shorter daylight hours. Just being a worried mother hen I guess!

 

[Chicky8chick]

Shorter daylight hours, they tend to slow down and/or stop laying. Molting is another reason they would do this. I have 15 laying pullets yesterday only 4 eggs. Most likely it is just the time of year but watch out for poopy butts or lethargic acting girls.

Can you enlighten me about the poopy butts lol first time chicken owner and not sure what your referencing