One broody hen... Broke... Now no eggs past 3 days

[janaedwards]

I've searched threads but am not able to find an answer to my question!!

Preface:
I have six laying hens. They are all regular layers, one+ years old, and I get four to five eggs per day out of them. We had some heavy rain recently and I skipped one day picking up eggs. This caused my welsummer to go broody. I broke her of the broodiness two days later. Now, we are four days past the broody days and all of my chickens have stopped laying eggs... No eggs for three days.

Question:
How do I get my chickens to start laying eggs again?

 

[janaedwards]

I've searched threads but am not able to find an answer to my question!!

Preface:
I have six laying hens. They are all regular layers, one+ years old, and I get four to five eggs per day out of them. We had some heavy rain recently and I skipped one day picking up eggs. This caused my welsummer to go broody. I broke her of the broodiness two days later. Now, we are four days past the broody days and all of my chickens have stopped laying eggs... No eggs for three days.

Question:
How do I get my chickens to start laying eggs again?

Anyone have an answer or is everyone stumped like me?!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

It seems odd they would all stop laying at once. Are you sure someone or something is not helping themselves to your eggs? A snake or pair of snakes, perhaps? I had that happen to me, is why I thought of it. Are your girls coming into molt? You say they are about a year old, so that could be a possibility. Let's ask some of the more experienced folks on here, I'm kind of a newbie myself. @Eggcessive, @aart and @Wyorp Rock may have some sound advice.

 

[aart]

Forgetting to gather eggs for one day will not make a hen go broody, she was probably already to go anyway. A broken broody bird may take a week or so to start laying again.
Do you free range?
How did you break the broody?

 

[janaedwards]

They are free ranging and go to the coop to lay and roost. Broke the broody very easily by taking her out to eat and locking the coop for the afternoon. She didn't mind and went straight back to the rest of the flock normally.

 

[aart]

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 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.