Only three eggs a day from 12 hens.......????

[Cluckcluck1215]

I'm getting 3 eggs out of 12 hens.They finished molt, all the little ones have bright red combs and wattles and are squatting(but ones not.i don't think she'll ever lay.not sure)
What could be causing this?before the molt I was getting so many eggs that I couldn't deal with from just 5 hens and now I'm only getting 3 from 12 hens.

 

[Flock Master64]

How many hours a day is the sun out?

 

[donrae]

Lots of birds take the winter off after they molt. If they were hatched spring 15, it's quite likely you'll not see eggs until after solstice.

 

[aart]

I'm getting 3 eggs out of 12 hens.They finished molt, all the little ones have bright red combs and wattles and are squatting(but ones not.i don't think she'll ever lay.not sure)
What could be causing this?before the molt I was getting so many eggs that I couldn't deal with from just 5 hens and now I'm only getting 3 from 12 hens.

How old are these birds...in months?
What breed(s)?
Are you located in Maine?
Are you using supplemental lighting?

Sounds like the usual ebb and flow, feast or famine, of owning laying chickens.

 

[Cluckcluck1215]

How old are these birds...in months?
What breed(s)?
Are you located in Maine?
Are you using supplemental lighting?

Sounds like the usual ebb and flow, feast or famine, of owning laying chickens.

Well.....
My babies are 26 weeks.
My adult hens are 1 and half years old
I have a 7 year old hens.She used to lay every other day.(but I think she's done)
And I have one 1 year and a half old duck.
Yes, I'm in Maine.
No, I'm not.i never do.

 

[Flock Master64]

What breeds?

 

[Cluckcluck1215]

What breeds?

1 runner duck
2 Barred rocks(one laying)
1 White leghorn(laying)
1 unknow breed(Suspect layer)
1 Golden Comet(Suspect layer)
1Black Austrolorp
1 Black Giant
3 Easter Eggers
And 1 Silver Laced Wyandotte

 

[aart]

Quote: So are the 12 the babies?
The pullets(females under a year) may not all be laying yet, and may not start until after winter solstice when the days begin to get longer.
Could be December...or February.
The hens even tho having completed their molt, as far as you can tell, may also not start laying again until after solstice.

What are you feeding?
Non laying birds should not eating layer, the growing pullets and the molting hens both need extra protein and lower calcium.

 

[Cluckcluck1215]

So are the 12 the babies?
The pullets(females under a year) may not all be laying yet, and may not start until after winter solstice when the days begin to get longer.
Could be December...or February.
The hens even tho having completed their molt, as far as you can tell, may also not start laying again until after solstice.

What are you feeding?
Non laying birds should not eating layer, the growing pullets and the molting hens both need extra protein and lower calcium.

No, I have 6 26 week olds 5 1 1/2 year olds and one 7 year old.
Two pullets are laying, I know that.
Blue seal feed extra layer.Also, I've heard that over and over but once the are a little older I switch to layer feed and they have always Ben fine.

 

[aart]

Quote: Sure, they'll be 'fine',
but you'll get faster molt recovery, pullet growth, thus better production with a higher protein/lower calcium feed,
and oyster shells in a separate container always available for the actual laying birds.
You were asking about low production and feed is part of the reason why.