Production dropped

[RKrebs]

We have 6 chickens that are a year old (1 BO, 3 Banty Silkies, an EE, and a light brahma) that were giving us 5-6 eggs a day all winter long. We live in the Pacific Northwest so I put a light on a timer in their pen at night. They were machines all winter long. Then this spring we got 4 Auracanas and introduced them to the flock. They get along fine, if not a little skittish, but the others do not pick on them at all.

A few months ago, 1 of the Silkies went broody so my wife got 2 Cukoo Morans (sp?) day old and put them under the Silkie. She has been raising them and they actually get along with the flock better than the Auracanas.

My question is this; Is it more probable the egg production, which has dropped off to 1 a day and sometimes none, due to all the extra chickens? The other 2 Silkies have also gone broody and they stay in the house all day long in the same box. Maybe since they are in the house, the other chickens wont go in to do their business? Or are they like a house full of women and all their cycles are in sync. Broody sync that is.

I see a few feathers in the pen but nothing of any major note and none of the chickens look like they are molting. The days are longer now and the weather is beautiful.


Thanks

 

[aart]

How big is your coop, how many nests?
Overcrowding can cause stress or if you have broodies taking up nests, maybe there's not enough nests.

Do you free range...eggs could be getting laid somewhere else?

They could be molting, they often don't lose a ton at once and will eat them too.

Look at the hens combs, are they very bright red and waxy looking(laying)....or pale and dull or dry looking(not laying)?