one year old chickens stopped laying

[tehachapichick]

I have 3 chickens that are about a year old. 2 RR and 1 welsummer. The RR have been laying since August and the Welsummer has been laying since October. They have not laid in a week. I always get at one or two eggs a day. They are not molting and they do not have lice or mites. I have not seen any worms in there droppings. I also have a light. They are acting normal (eating and drinking). Does any one have any ideas as to why this has happened?

 

[gatorshark75]

I have 3 chickens that are about a year old. 2 RR and 1 welsummer. The RR have been laying since August and the Welsummer has been laying since October. They have not laid in a week. I always get at one or two eggs a day. They are not molting and they do not have lice or mites. I have not seen any worms in there droppings. I also have a light. They are acting normal (eating and drinking). Does any one have any ideas as to why this has happened?

do they have any nasal discharge or are they sounding funny when they breath or has anything changed in their inviroment

 

[tehachapichick]

Thanks for your reply...no they do not have a cold. The only thing I did clean out the nesting boxes and put in clean straw, about 2 weeks ago.

 

[gatorshark75]

Thanks for your reply...no they do not have a cold. The only thing I did clean out the nesting boxes and put in clean straw, about 2 weeks ago.

the straw could be the problem i lost a flock a couple of years ago to hay that had mold on it you couldn't even see it but it set up respiratory infection and killed them before we could figure out what was wrong with them now i only use pine shavings and it started with them not laying them it progressed from there o and the killer straw also got my royal palm turkey tom i was devastated now the only hay or straw around this farm is for the goats to eat

 

[tehachapichick]

come to think of it...it was a little wet when I bought it. I am going to buy pine tomorrow. Thank you.

 

[gatorshark75]

come to think of it...it was a little wet when I bought it. I am going to buy pine tomorrow. Thank you.

get rid of it ASAP run them out of the coop and clean it good then put in the pine you will like it better anyway its so easy to clean up and it keeps the smell down too (BONUS) anything that helps with odor is a bonus right

 

[gatorshark75]

just make sure its pine not cedar cedar will cause them to get pnuemonia

 

[tehachapichick]

Thanks again....I hope it will work. In the back of my mind I kinda thought it maybe the new straw.

 

[tehachapichick]

got the pine and clean really good. When I was done the 3 chicken sang egg song and sat in the boxes...but only got one egg. I guess that's a good start. Thank you again.

 

[gap1956]

Hi
I don't post very often but I have 2 different groups of chickens 3 are a year older & they are laying fine they are close but separated for now.
I have 5 other hens & 1 Rooster & I moved them @ 3 months ago to a different pen closer to my 1st 3 hens getting ready to merge the two. In the pen with the 5 hens & they each have their own laying box. They layed 2 eggs 1 in one of the boxes & the other outside.
My original 3 hens that are laying fine have a large communal laying box.
The 5 hens haven't laid but 2 eggs since the move. They are eating well & there's no unusual activities I don't get it.
Where they were they shared a nest & someone said they'd lay more if they had their own individual box...they are not laying at all.
Now its been suggested I get some plastic eggs & put them in the boxes.
Personally I feel if the don't like the egg boxes (plastic crates with fresh hay everyday) they could go back to laying in one spot...but they aren't laying at all... & no there not molting they've already molted before winter thank goodness.
It's not the hay their behavior & appetite is normal just not laying.

Any suggestions????
Thanks
GAP flying low