No eggs...what's the deal!?

[Anny]

My chicken have been being pretty horrible egg layers this year. I had 3 reliable layers in the spring time. One of them passed away. Leaving me with only 2 reliable egg layers, then in the middle of the summer one of them went broody, and right after going broody Both of the ones laying eggs molted. They molted about a month ago...and still no eggs! What's the deal?

I also have 4 younger chickens, 2 that should start laying next month (ish) and 2 that are only a few months old.

So...why am I not getting any eggs still from the two lazy hens? They are both only about a year old. They have shells and grit and plenty of food and fresh water.

I put another nesting box in the coop thinking they didn't like the first one...and the baby chickens just sleep in it at night. Erg.

Any one have any suggestions on anything that might help?

Do you think some one might be eating the eggs they are laying?? Wouldn't they leave behind some kind of shell or a mess if that was the case though ?

 

[gamebirdsonly]

This time of the year you might have to add light to get them going.

 

[Anny]

But they have not been laying for some time now. Since more then a month ago.

And by not laying I mean NOT A SINGLE EGG. In MONTHS

 

[gamebirdsonly]

sounds like most of my birds I have 30 + hens and have not gotten no eggs from any of them since the first of October

 

[Anny]

It's so weird...do you know why your hens stopped laying?

 

[packinaglock]

Im kind of in the same boat, I have 12 hens and only get two eggs a day.

 

[feathersnuggles]

What about their protein level? Check out this post:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=254277&p=1

 

[Anny]

Mine are on a grower feed which has 16% protein (since I still have youngones I didn't want to put the layer feed for all, but they have calcium shells in a another bowl.)

 

[feathersnuggles]

Understand, since they've just finished molting, that they used up a huge amount of protein to produce all those new feathers (feathers are MOSTLY protein). They probably need some time to rebalance their bodies and to gain back the protein they lost to the new feathers. My impression about 16% protein feed is that it is an average. During and immediately after a molt, or if you have heavier breeds, they need a little more protein, especially if you want them to quickly transition back to laying eggs.

 

[Anny]

I'll give that stuff a try and see if it will help. How much do I add to their food?