Pullets sporadic laying now stoped.

[8 Chicks 1967]

I have 3 Lavender Amerucana hens that started to lay abound 24 weeks. We have gotten 10 eggs so far over a 2 week time period. We are feeding them Laying feed with just a little Scratch in the evenings and a few grapes. Now it's been 2 weeks and nothing. Our older girls that went through a molt are now laying pretty consistent. Is this normal or do I need to tweak something. It is never totally dark as we have a mercury light on 24/& and even at night their coop is equal to a childs night light.

 

[lazy gardener]

All animals need a period of darkness to maintain good health. I don't know that this is the reason, but am guessing it may be at least part of the reason.

 

[aart]

Not sure if the amount of the 'nightlight effect' is enough to have an affect on the chickens pineal glands.

When using timed lighting for winter laying it needs to be 'bright enough to read a newspaper at roost level'. That's rather ambiguous also, as all of us have different eye strength, my daughter could read there with much less light than I.

The older birds coming back into lay further complicates/confuses assessing this situation.

So the pullets started laying 4 weeks ago, and the last 2 weeks nothing?
Did the older birds start back up at the same time the youngers stopped?
Could be a stress pecking order thing. Do you free range?

Just pondering the possibilities.
Knowing more about:
your flock size(numbers, ages, genders),
your coop(size in feet by feet with pics),
might offer clues as to if there is a solvable problem.

 

[8 Chicks 1967]

The older girls and the pullets were laying at the same time. The older girls came out of molt and the pullets came of age about the same time only now the pullets have quit. We got about 10 of their first eggs and nothing after. we get 1 to 3 eggs a day from our older 3 hens. their coops are back to back so as far as the light goes its the same. the light is about 50 feet from the coops 20 feet high and yes I could read a paper at the coop but both roosting polls are indirect. 3 pullets about 28/29 weeks and 3 hens 2 and 3 yaers old. Bothe coops are 4x4x4 and the runs are 4 x16's.

 

[8 Chicks 1967]

This is before the second coop was finished. they are both the same now as the one on the right. back to back. The 3 older girls are in the attached file. The house is about 50 feet from these coops and the light is on the house.

 

[8 Chicks 1967]

We have added this cockerel with the pullets.

 

[aart]

the light is about 50 feet from the coops 20 feet high and yes I could read a paper at the coop but both roosting polls are indirect.

At the coop but not inside the coop I'd bet.
Oh so a cockerel was added too! When did that happen in relation to the stoppage of laying?

 

[8 Chicks 1967]

The light is on the house 50 ft away. The cockerel was added before they layed their first egg.

 

[Star and eclipsa]

We have added this cockerel with the pullets.View attachment 1203465

Such a handsome cockerel!

 

[aart]

I don't think the light is affecting the pullets or the olders,
it's not bright enough inside the coop,
they stopped laying because they do that sometimes.