No one's laying!

[christa7032]

I have 3 laying hens and I actually had to buy eggs this week! I have gotten 2 eggs this week out of 3 hens. All 3 had been broody and I got them to stop and they started laying again for a few weeks, and now they have stopped again. What is wrong? Is this normal? They all seem perfectly healthy. Is there anything I can do to get them to start again? Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

 

[lauralou]

Is it very hot where you are? It's sweltering here, and I have noticed a drop in egg production. I have 15 laying hens, so even with the drop in production, we still have enough eggs to eat. If I only had 3 hens, it might seem like much more of a problem.

Other thoughts: Could they be broody again? (Sneaky little she-devils...) Could they be hiding their eggs? This can be a problem if they free range. Possible nutritional deficiency? What are you feeding them? Has anything stressful happened to them recently?

 

[emmak]

It's very hot here in North Central Texas, and my chickens have stopped laying. I only have 3. My Ameracauna still has not laid her first egg, but her comb is getting larger, so I'm being patient. My Golden Comet and Old English Bantam have both stopped laying. Yesterday we put in a mister and some sun blocking screen to help them stay a little cooler.

 

[NarleevilleClucks]

It's been beastly hot here in MD and my 4 hens are taking turns keeping me in 2 eggs a day when I used to get 4. I'm buying more hens this weekend so I can keep the neighbors in eggs...and because I dig having them

 

[calicokat]

It's been kinda hot here too, I'm averaging 4 eggs from 7 hens.

Although - Annabelle, my blue polish, is notorious for laying elsewhere, so I probably need to invest some time in the garden this weekend so I can watch and see where she's wandering to (before they get rotton and blow up!)

 

[christa7032]

It has been pretty hot here (high 80's -90's) so that is probably it. I think one is going broody again, and one may be hiding them because my neighbor lets them out every morning for me so they can run around. They have plenty of shade in their run and their coop is insulated better than most people's houses so they should be staying comfortable but I am sure that is the reason for the decline in production. Thanks for your help

 

[Zahboo]

Welcome to my world. I have 3 eggs from June. This is out of 6 hens.

 

[b.hromada]

I'm right there with you! My girls have been slacking for a while now! Some are moulting though. I just went back to layer crumbles after being on pellets for a while. They are eating more of this, so hopefully, more eggs soon.