No more eggs?!

[mlecreason]

Hey everyone. I’m looking for some advice. We have 8 pullets around 20ish weeks. 6 Australorps, and 2 Easter Eggers. They laid maybe a total of about 10 pullet eggs, over the coarse of about a week. Now, we haven’t seen a single egg for almost a week! I had 5 NH Reds a couple years ago, and never experienced this. Once they started laying, we could guarantee at least 2-4 eggs every day.

Their coop is very large, more space than they need, and they free range in about 1,000 sqft every day in our large yard. They have plenty of water, LOTS of sun, no stress (minus my 7 year old and the occasional attempt to catch one.), they eat layers pellets with dried egg shells, and red chili flakes, plus what ever they find in the yard.

 

[TwoChicksChix]

Is it very hot where you are? Sometimes the heat can put them off laying.

 

[GC-Raptor]

Their coop is very large, more space than they need, and they free range in about 1,000 sqft every day in our large yard.

I bet they're laying underneath a bush, a potted plant, under a shed, porch, deck or fallin log.
Keep them in their large coop or pen until afternoon. GC

 

[mlecreason]

I bet they're laying underneath a bush, a potted plant, under a shed, porch, deck or fallin log.
Keep them in their large coop or pen until afternoon. GC

There isn’t anything like that in our yard. The bushes we do have they have smashed down, and we check there several times a day. They don’t get any sun in their coop so I worry about leaving them in there very long.

 

[mlecreason]

Is it very hot where you are? Sometimes the heat can put them off laying.

We haven’t gotten out of the 80’s but 1 time where it got up to 91. We have plenty of tree shade from the other side of our fence, and house shade, plus their coop gets no sun inside, so it stays nice and cool in there.

 

[mlecreason]

Here is our yard and their coop for reference.

 

[GC-Raptor]

We have 8 pullets around 20ish weeks. 6 Australorps, and 2 Easter Eggers. They laid maybe a total of about 10 pullet eggs, over the coarse of about a week. Now, we haven’t seen a single egg for almost a week! I had 5 NH Reds a couple years ago

You are right, not many places to hide eggs.
They are still young. My Barred Rocks started to lay at 20 weeks and the last didn't lay till 23 weeks.
The NHR are derived from RIR and are prolific layers.
EE usually start around 26 weeks. Australorps I'm not sure about.
My Golden Comets started to lay at 16.5 weeks and all were laying by 19 weeks.
It varies by breed/type. I would give them more time.
It is strange though that one or two started to lay then stopped.
I'm only on my second Flock and haven't experienced that. Hope they start soon.
That's nice country where you are. GC

 

[sealer39]

Look well in that bed of what looks like Vitex with the purple flowers. That’s a perfect hiding spot for eggs.

 

[mlecreason]

Look well in that bed of what looks like Vitex with the purple flowers. That’s a perfect hiding spot for eggs.

The Russian sage is on a rock retaining wall. They sometimes go up to the top yard, but not often.

 

[mlecreason]

You are right, not many places to hide eggs.
They are still young. My Barred Rocks started to lay at 20 weeks and the last didn't lay till 23 weeks.
The NHR are derived from RIR and are prolific layers.
EE usually start around 26 weeks. Australorps I'm not sure about.
My Golden Comets started to lay at 16.5 weeks and all were laying by 19 weeks.
It varies by breed/type. I would give them more time.
It is strange though that one or two started to lay then stopped.
I'm only on my second Flock and haven't experienced that. Hope they start soon.
That's nice country where you are. GC

Thanks! I live in Wyoming. It’s beautiful here.