Not laying for 4+ months

[mmcshelly4]

I must be overlooking something, yet I feel like I’ve tried everything. All our hens stopped laying in July. It’s now November. At first I thought maybe they were going to molt, but they didn’t. Then I thought maybe the hot summer weather was causing them to stop, but as the weather cooled to 60-70s (usually perfect laying weather) they didn’t start laying. We haven’t changed their food. We aren’t aware of any stressors. We treated them for mites (just in case), dewormed them, and deep cleaned the coop. They all seem healthy and happy. Combs are red and standing up. Feet and feathers look good. They’re eating and drinking. They get plenty of sun (although now they get less as winter is approaching). We give them mealworms a few times each week as treats. They’re all of laying age (1-3 years). I can’t figure out why they all stopped! Any ideas?

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Did you leave for vacation at any point? Change their setup somehow? Add new birds? Sometimes dumb things will make them stop but I have never had a stressor stop them for four months. I did have a hen who quit for a month (maybe more) after I got her and a raccoon attacked the next day. I gave her away so I don't know how long she would have kept it up. Wish I could be more help

 

[mmcshelly4]

Did you leave for vacation at any point? Change their setup somehow? Add new birds? Sometimes dumb things will make them stop but I have never had a stressor stop them for four months. I did have a hen who quit for a month (maybe more) after I got her and a raccoon attacked the next day. I gave her away so I don't know how long she would have kept it up. Wish I could be more help

Thanks for the reply. I can’t think of anything, but who knows! Maybe something seemingly silly threw them off. I wish I could figure out what!

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I wonder if something threw them off and then the days got shorter and it just exacerbated the problem

 

[Rldad1]

If they are able to free range look for a hidden nest or two. We found one with 16 eggs in it after we didn't get eggs for a while.

 

[LaFleche]

Hidden nests or someone else taking the eggs.
You can check if they are laying by feeling their pelvis bones, which are situated either side of the vent. With non laying hens these bones are very close together and in laying hens you would be able to put at least one, more often two fingers between them.

Set up a coop camera to see who is taking your eggs. Many animals love to eat eggs: cats, dogs, foxes, hedgehogs, snakes, weasels, crows, ravens, magpies ... the list goes on.

 

[mmcshelly4]

Hidden nests or someone else taking the eggs.
You can check if they are laying by feeling their pelvis bones, which are situated either side of the vent. With non laying hens these bones are very close together and in laying hens you would be able to put at least one, more often two fingers between them.

Set up a coop camera to see who is taking your eggs. Many animals love to eat eggs: cats, dogs, foxes, hedgehogs, snakes, weasels, crows, ravens, magpies ... the list goes on.

Oh this is great info. We need to set up a camera. And I’m going to check their pelvic bones. Thank you!!!

 

[mmcshelly4]

If they are able to free range look for a hidden nest or two. We found one with 16 eggs in it after we didn't get eggs for a while.

Definitely going to look for hidden nests. Thank you! And wow, 16 eggs!

 

[PopoMyers]

Hidden nests or someone else taking the eggs.
You can check if they are laying by feeling their pelvis bones, which are situated either side of the vent. With non laying hens these bones are very close together and in laying hens you would be able to put at least one, more often two fingers between them.

Set up a coop camera to see who is taking your eggs. Many animals love to eat eggs: cats, dogs, foxes, hedgehogs, snakes, weasels, crows, ravens, magpies ... the list goes on.

Good to know. Half of my 9 girls are molting, or near finished, but not laying again yet. We now have long nights. Another month before it starts lengthening. My other girls don't seem like they are going to molt? They are all 1.4 years old. Will they eventually molt?

 

[rosemarythyme]

My other girls don't seem like they are going to molt? They are all 1.4 years old. Will they eventually molt?

The ones that haven't molted should molt at some point this winter, or possibly could've molted already (but so sparsely all over that it's not really noticeable unless you're looking for it).

My birds don't resume laying after molt until days start lengthening again, even if the molt happens early (i.e. July/August), due to the noticibly shortened daylight hours in the PNW.