Ongoing Mystery: Hens Not Laying!

[ten red hens]

OK, I've got a flock of 10 hens, 8 of which haven't laid for about six months.

They aren't molting.
They don't seem sick, although some are a bit skinny.
They are locked away at night -- no predators scare them.
They aren't very old (between 1 and 3 years, and they used to lay LOTS)

I give them oyster shell and a high quality laying mash and not too many scraps or too much corn
They've got a nice big yard and four nesting boxes.
We've got a rooster and they don't like getting mated that much, but he's been around for several years, and they always used to lay


I've:
treated them with Sulmet (about four months ago)
treated them with Piperazine-17 (about four months ago)
treated them and the yard with diatomaceous earth


Why oh why oh why aren't they laying!?!?!?!?

 

[redstars]

Have you checked all around the yard?
They might have found a nice cozy place of their own to stash eggs.
My friend found 19 eggs on the top of his wood pile.
He was also wondering why his girls were not laying. He had no Idea untill he saw one jump down
from the pile.

 

[vstoltzfus]

I agree with redstars that you need to check around the yard. I once found a nest with 9 eggs in it hidden under a bush. If you really want to know if they're laying, lock them in the hen house for a day or two, and see if you get any eggs. Let us know what happens!

 

[claud]

Yes, even check in the coop - they are good at hiding them.

I thought mine had stopped a while back and my daughter found 20+ eggs in the corner in the coop(and this is a relatively small - 6x10 coop)!

 

[ten red hens]

Alas, nothing as simple as hidden eggs!

The hens are in a fenced enclosure, and it's very easy to check the entire area for eggs.

I really think it's a health or diet problem...

 

[redstars]

Did you check their pockets?