No one wants to lay!

[barefootfarmer]

I have three bantam hens who are about a year old and at the beginning of the summer, I allowed one to go broody and hatch a clutch of eggs. Ever since I removed her from the flock to sit, egg laying has been very scarce and scattered among the bantams. Before, they laid 2-3 eggs collectively per day. Now, I am lucky to get one per week.

On an even weirder note, about a month ago I brought home five 22 week BOs. They live separately from the bantams. Their previous owner had not yet received an egg from them when she sold them. The first day I had them I got a small egg from one. I figured it was the one with the reddest comb and wattles since she was in the box most of the day. First egg layer laid 6 eggs in 6 days and they were slowly becoming larger. All of a sudden, the hen I suspected of laying started following the bantams around during the day while free ranging and I haven't seen an egg from her since..or any other BO for that matter. (Unfortunately one of my BOs started acting strange and died in her sleep last week, so now there are only four.)

I also brought home 2 EEs with the BOs and they are a year old. I HAVE NEVER SEEN AN EGG FROM EITHER OF THEM!

I feed layer's crumble and all my birds free range during the day. Birds who are already laying also eat their own eggshells mixed with crumble.

What's going on?

 

[Judy]

Of course, they won't lay while they are broody. I suspect since you free range that they have hidden nest(s.) Snakes, fox, etc. could also be robbing those hidden nests.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/423023/why-arent-my-chickens-laying-here-are-your-answers/0_20

 

[barefootfarmer]

I don't expect the hen who is just hatched a clutch to lay, but I do expect the other bantams to lay and they have always laid in my nesting boxes before, so I don't know what would make them change where they lay.