No more eggs

[Mar1ann3]

so, 2 weeks ago I introduced a new flock consisting of 14 new grown chickens that already were laying, to my existing flock of 9 including 2 ducks. They are all healthy and are sleeping in the same large coop. When the new ones arrived they started immediately laying eggs. Out of the 14 i was getting up to 7 eggs in total a day for about 5-6 days. Then everyone stopped laying except for one who started laying in a smaller coop that is not being used by any chickens. But even she is not regular. What's going on? They seem to get along except for an occasional peck when I feed them. They are basically on a free range diet, that I supplement once a day with kitchen scraps, dry worms, flax and sunflower seeds. They have two water containers near the coop and a nearby pool that the duckies use but I also see some chickens drink from it. Why are they not laying eggs? The days are still long and they are outside free ranging all day long. Puzzled!

 

[junebuggena]

Hidden nests and molting season.

 

[Pork Pie]

Good points above. Do they have access to oyster shell?

 

[sawilliams]

Stress is another possibility, the first few days they still have to lay any eggs that started to develop, the stress of the move, new home, new flock could cuase most of them to shut down. It can take 2-4 weeks for them to return to normal laying, but with fall coming you might not see many eggs again till spring

 

[aart]

Hidden nests and molting season.

Stress is another possibility

Both these^^^^

Plus:

They are basically on a free range diet, that I supplement once a day with kitchen scraps, dry worms, flax and sunflower seeds.

No balanced chicken feed?

 

[Mar1ann3]

Hidden nests and molting season.

I have thought of hidden nests but they have access to so much land I wouldn't know where to start looking, not that I haven't tried, but no success. Got 2 more eggs today in the small coop. Nothing in their nesting boxes

 

[Mar1ann3]

Both these^^^^

Plus:

No balanced chicken feed?

No chicken feed. They get all they need by free ranging, they have access to wood chips composting full of worms, all kinds plants, fruits falling from trees and insects galore. I don't think they could get a better diet. Have you seen a free range egg yolk? Not yellow but orange. They taste different, better. And my chickens are plump, feathers are healthy and shiny

 

[Mar1ann3]

Stress is another possibility, the first few days they still have to lay any eggs that started to develop, the stress of the move, new home, new flock could cuase most of them to shut down. It can take 2-4 weeks for them to return to normal laying, but with fall coming you might not see many eggs again till spring

That would be sad, I was so much looking forward to a dozen eggs per day. Waiting for spring is a long way

 

[Mar1ann3]

Good points above. Do they have access to oyster shell?

Forgot to mention that they get a steady supply of ground up egg shells

 

[Little Chicken Girl]

Welcome to BYC!
Glad to have you here!

I am not an expert... this is just my opinion:

It does not sound like deficiency from the description (to me)...Chickens that are deficient in minerals usually display decreased egg shell quality before a decrease egg production is highly noticeable (i.e if the few eggs you are getting are strong shelled and you get few imperfections... than you most likely don't have a layer nutrient deficiency issue).

If it is molting, you should notice thinning feathers/bald patches soon (if they are not displaying that already).

Stress from being moved is fairly common and can take up to a few weeks for new hens to adjust to the surroundings...

However, new hens also need 'nest box adjustment'... Chickens have a very specific routine (a place they lay, a place they sleep and ect...). Since the hens have been moved and their routine is disturbed... it is possible that they are not using the nest boxes simply because they are not used to them and have found a place in the bushes they are fond of.

Hope this information was helpful.