No eggs - we are about to give up

[MomMommyMamma]

We have several hens that are now 6 months (24+ wks) who are not laying. They are Comets, Wyandottes, and Buckeyes. My theory is that since they did not start laying before the chill and decrease of daylight with Fall, they may not even begin to lay or may lay only a few eggs before spring.
On the other hand, we bought a few 7 month old hens from a friend and they have been laying nicely. The Jersey Giant lays nearly daily, the Cuckoo Maran & Ameraucana have laid only once in the week we've had them.
We too are feeling the frustration of so much feed and not getting eggs. Just keeping faith in the science that says that once we start getting eggs regularly, we should be getting 30+ per week.
Hang in there.

 

[MissJenny]

The OP hasn't come back to comment or to answer any questions. I wouldn't waste another second on this. ♥

Jenny

 

[LADYKK]

Hi,
I just now had a moment or two to get on computer to read your comments. Our hens are between 6 months and 2 years of age. The
EE's had laid an egg here and there in summer. The Barred Rocks and RIR's did not even lay good during mid-summer on when we bought them. We have two roosters in with the hens so if they need that type inspiration they have it.
We have checked the lot thoroughly and the coop. Cannot find one hiding eggs. No sign of a hen that is eating eggs. No snakes have been seen on the farm this year. They have golf balls in their nests. My husband recently made them covered nest boxes so they can feel they have their little hiding spaces in which to lay.
We do have dogs and puppies in nearby kennels. None of our dogs or puppies can get to the chickens. You would think they have been around them long enough that their barking would not bother them in any way. If any of you are in similar situations, please advise. If necessary, I guess my husband could move their coop to the barn which is a long way from the dogs. It will be a lot of trouble for him to make their run varmint proof. The barn is very near the creek.
I really thank you all for all of your advice and I will be discussing all of this with my husband. It would be such a joy to have hens that are laying regularly and what a help financially if we had enough eggs to sell a dozen here and there so we can keep feeding them really good.
Thanks again,
Karen

P.S. Due to health problems I am housebound. I miss seeing the chickens free-ranging our farm. Their coop and run is where I cannot see it. Do you really think them free ranging would keep them from laying?

 

[Judy]

I would think that if anything, free ranging would help laying, by making them happier and calmer. If there is a problem besides cooler temps and the time of year for them to rest, I suspect it is stress. Depends a lot on how noisy the dogs are and to what extent this bothers them. It is possible the two roosters are part of the problem, as there is really one too many. I personally think they do best with one roo to 10-15 hens; at least no hen takes the rooster role, which may cause them to stop laying. I also feel a roo makes for a calmer flock. Of course a roo is also helpful for free ranging if he does his job, as he will sacrifice himself to save hens. The usual ratio given on here is one roo to ten hens.

I have two roos and 13 hens who all free range and am getting 3-5 eggs a day now, 10-12 in better weather. (But I have 3 or 4 molting and one broody, too.)

 

[MomMommyMamma]

Quote:
I have read that without a roo, a hen may develop rooster like ways. I did not realize that if that happened, all of the hens may stop laying. Or were you saying that just that one hen would stop laying?

 

[linben]

I think they are hiding eggs somewhere. I would close them up for a few days to see if you get any eggs. I looked for a week and was thinking they were laying but lo and behold I found a "nest" with 13 eggs hidden under the wheelbarrow.

 

[Judy]

Quote:
Sorry, I was unclear, it's just the one. Wehn it happened to me, she stopped laying, but I don't know if this is always the case.

They are very clever at hiding eggs, too, in the oddest places.

 

[6chickens in St. Charles]

Quote:
Absolutely! Our EE hen is the classic "now hunt for your eggs at eastertime" hen. Even she doesn't remember where she puts them, we find them everywhere.

We have even found an egg in a boot in our coatroom. She loves to sneak inside our house to hunt for egglaying places.

Another time this summer, all 3 hens refused to lay in the coop, then we discovered mites in their cute nestbox baskets. So we did a thorough clean-out and dusted with permethren, now we get eggs in the nestboxes regularly, only this time the boxes are plastic rubbermaid storage boxes! Mites can't hide in those. And they were very easy to carve entry holes into with just a sharp knife. I like the plastic boxes a lot, they coordinate very well with the coop, and they are super easy to keep clean and pest free.

I hope you find your eggs. Maybe could one of your dogs be trained to hunt for eggs?
My neighbor's dog was playing with an egg the other day, and she led my neighbor to a clutch of eggshells behind the garden, as if to say, "these are great! You should try one! Here, have one!" .... LOL, she thought her hens weren't laying either.

 

[cherylcohen]

It happens every year production falls off. The girls really use this time to recharge so don't get discouraged, just think what will happen in the spring...you'll have too many eggs!

 

[turbo13]

Mine are 6 months,tomorrow.The BO started laying one a day since Nov.3. the BR started on Nov 13 the EE laid her first pretty mint green egg 2 hours ago.Very proud Grandpa.The EE had a very close encounter with a hawk yesterday.maybe that got her thinking. loa