Oregon

[Zanna]

I would think molt or daylight issues would be the problem since it is the most typical reason this time of year.

Zanna~ My chickens would flip out if I tried to look under their tails LOL I wouldn't know whether to duck or run.....the chaos of flying chickens

Mine are mostly Heritage Bred, pretty calm birds in general and comotose at night ........ I do have one leghorn layer that feels violated, she jumps off the roost and cusses me out

 

[MandalaMaMa]

Hey mine haven't even started laying yet. They are 23 wks and 20 wks. Just hopeful to see eggs this year.

 

[Susiederkins]

I will need more friends locally who have chickens in the spring. None of my hatch-lings survived long enough to make it to the yard....darn dogs and the eggs I bought on Ebay were dismal rates of hatching. They were reasonably priced but the shipping was a killer!

 

[Susiederkins]

Locally to me would be anywhere in the Central Oregon area, the mid Willamette Valley (Eugene-ish), and around Medford.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

I just got a request to supply a local restaurant with 45 dozen eggs per week, which obviously I can't do. Does anyone know anyone in the area (SW Portland suburbs) who can sell 45 dozen eggs per week to a restaurant? I presume they mean *every* week, even in the winter.

 

[poochell01]

With last weeks rains I've had a few rodents in 1 of my coops at night. The girls stress when the rats are on the roosts or rafters at night. A lot of mine are going through their molt also. I also have a skunk that has moved in under one of my other coops.

How old are your birds? Didn't you get them this spring?

Yes I just got them this spring so not even a year yet. I figure it has something to do with weather. I haven't seen signs of critters I treat regularly for mites and lice and have a enclosed run so no skunks. We have got tarps to put around and over the run fresh dry bedding. My hubby is going to put the heat light in for night time ( so they don't get cold) the run did get muddy this week so I've got some straw to lay down in the run. But I'm a little worried about them I know I over worry being a first timer but this isn't normal is it?

 

[poochell01]

So here's another stupid question my son has helped me with the daily routine of feeding, watering, coop cleaning and attention giving. Three days after he left for college is when they stopped laying.could him not being around be part of why they aren't laying? I know this is probably the dumbest question I've ever asked but just trying to find out why and how to help. The daylight thing makes sense will they just adjust to that on their own?

 

[meowoui]

From what I have read Hen's can stop laying from being stressed a new chicken or it could be time for them to slow down because winter is coming.

I guess you can put a picture out in the coop to see if your girls will cheer up and start laying.

Karen

 

[Zanna]

So here's another stupid question my son has helped me with the daily routine of feeding, watering, coop cleaning and attention giving. Three days after he left for college is when they stopped laying.could him not being around be part of why they aren't laying? I know this is probably the dumbest question I've ever asked but just trying to find out why and how to help. The daylight thing makes sense will they just adjust to that on their own?

They will start laying again when they are ready, may not be until the days start gettting longer again. Just a coincidence the timing with your son. Stress can make them stop for a while, sometimes just changing their housing arrangement. They will start again. I would not give them a heat lamp. Things are going to get much colder and they will adjust. Remember, they are wearing a feather coat Just make sure there is plenty of ventilation in the coop and that there are no drafts on them when they are on the roost at night. They have a harder time with the heat than the cold.

 

[poochell01]

OK thank you very much everyone. I will just wait it out