Not So Many Eggs?

[tabs_flock]

Hi hi! I think I know the answer to this but I need a gut check from the more experienced community.

I have three 9-month old hens, a black Australorp and two red sexlinks. Three weeks ago, the australorp went broody. She wouldn't leave the nesting box and kept taking all the eggs laid by the others/her own eggs and tucking them under her belly. She growled at me the first day too! Every time I took her out of the box, she ran around and got right back in.

So I did the thing that I've read about and basically locked her out of the nesting box for a couple days. She didn't like it much but she went back to eating/drinking per usual and stopped trying to hatch a bunch of ceramic eggs. HOWEVER, she has not laid since then. Three days ago, one of my red sexlinks also stopped laying. They are also taking turns sleeping in the nesting box but I feel like this might just be normal chicken shenanigans?

I think the lack of eggs is NOT related to a few weeks ago but to the season. We've had a couple of really overcast weeks here in Oakley, CA and it IS December. I've read that hens stop laying in winter due to the days being shorter. Am I on the right track or should I be looking for a clutch of eggs under a bush? I haven't found one yet...

 

[cherrynberry]

Hi hi! I think I know the answer to this but I need a gut check from the more experienced community.

I have three 9-month old hens, a black Australorp and two red sexlinks. Three weeks ago, the australorp went broody. She wouldn't leave the nesting box and kept taking all the eggs laid by the others/her own eggs and tucking them under her belly. She growled at me the first day too! Every time I took her out of the box, she ran around and got right back in.

So I did the thing that I've read about and basically locked her out of the nesting box for a couple days. She didn't like it much but she went back to eating/drinking per usual and stopped trying to hatch a bunch of ceramic eggs. HOWEVER, she has not laid since then. Three days ago, one of my red sexlinks also stopped laying. They are also taking turns sleeping in the nesting box but I feel like this might just be normal chicken shenanigans?

I think the lack of eggs is NOT related to a few weeks ago but to the season. We've had a couple of really overcast weeks here in Oakley, CA and it IS December. I've read that hens stop laying in winter due to the days being shorter. Am I on the right track or should I be looking for a clutch of eggs under a bush? I haven't found one yet...

Yup. Normal. She will most likely molt or just rest for a few weeks. I am in the NH as well and suffer from an egg drought too.

 

[tabs_flock]

Yup. Normal. She will most likely molt or just rest for a few weeks. I am in the NH as well and suffer from an egg drought too.

Great to know, I was getting worried since California weather is pretty temperate where I am. But the days are shorter and the weather is cooler. Thanks for the reassurance!

 

[cherrynberry]

Great to know, I was getting worried since California weather is pretty temperate where I am. But the days are shorter and the weather is cooler. Thanks for the reassurance!

I am a fellow CA dweller as well! Glad to help. I had a broody earlier this year as well. She started laying a few weeks after her chicks were weaned, but like you said, the daylight hours are decreasing. Your girl may not start laying anytime soon which is totally normal.

 

[tabs_flock]

I am a fellow CA dweller as well! Glad to help. I had a broody earlier this year as well. She started laying a few weeks after her chicks were weaned, but like you said, the daylight hours are decreasing. Your girl may not start laying anytime soon which is totally normal.

It's funny going from "I have sooo many eggs" to being like, "Hmm, time for some rationing." Then again I've baked so much and made so much pasta that it's nice to have a break!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Young birds that are already laying will often continue laying even with short winter days, but it's 100% normal for layers to stop laying after being broody, as they need to shift their hormones back into laying mode.

 

[aart]

should I be looking for a clutch of eggs under a bush?

Maybe.
Do they look and feel like they are laying?
Might be time for some exams:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

Then.....
Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop/run for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.

 

[tabs_flock]

Maybe.
Do they look and feel like they are laying?
Might be time for some exams:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

Then.....
Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop/run for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.

I label the eggs as they are laid so I can keep track of who is and isn't laying.

I have some of those ceramic eggs in the nesting box that have helped. One girl was using a cardboard box full of my gardening gloves as a nest until I constructed the new coop, then she immediately switched to the (apparently) more desirable nesting box.

All three are spending time in the nesting box, but two weren't laying. But! Today one of the non-layers did lay an egg today. The sky cleared up for the first time in two weeks yesterday, so it does seem to be tied to light/length of day.

Now that said, one of them did steal a ceramic egg and I haven't been able to find it soooo *somebody* might need retraining. (hint, it's Daine. It's always Daine.) And I do need to train them to stay in the run for at least part of the day, I just haven't had the heart to.