Reduction in eggs?

[The Farmers' Daughter]

Has anyone noticed a reduction in egg production lately? A couple of weeks ago I was getting about 18 eggs a day. Yesterday I got 8. With the days longer shouldn't I be seeing an increase in production instead of a decrease? It's been quite gray out, but it's still daylight right?

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Production has definitely gone up here as well. I have been getting 13-15 eggs a day , yet yesterday I only got 9. Not all hens lay everyday so I expect to have inconsistencies with daily numbers.

 

[The Farmers' Daughter]

Production has definitely gone up here as well. I have been getting 13-15 eggs a day , yet yesterday I only got 9. Not all hens lay everyday so I expect to have inconsistencies with daily numbers.

I agree, but each day I'm seeing less & less. I have dual purpose, so I don't expect eggs from each girl every day, but I've got over 20 girls. Only 8 after such a large quantity a few weeks ago seems really odd.

P.s. I've done a thorough check, and they all seem healthy and happy. I also checked, and they're not hiding them anywhere.

 

[aart]

I also checked, and they're not hiding them anywhere.

Only way to be sure is to lock 'em up....they're not called hiding places for nothing.
Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

Has anyone noticed a reduction in egg production lately? A couple of weeks ago I was getting about 18 eggs a day. Yesterday I got 8. With the days longer shouldn't I be seeing an increase in production instead of a decrease? It's been quite gray out, but it's still daylight right?

That does seem odd. How old are they?

 

[The Farmers' Daughter]

8 mos through 3 years.

 

[The Farmers' Daughter]

Only way to be sure is to lock 'em up....they're not called hiding places for nothing.
Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.

They haven't been free ranging since last fall. Too much snow, and coyotes looking for a snack during the winter.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

8 mos through 3 years.

Well, they should still all be laying. Do you think they could be eating their eggs?

 

[The Farmers' Daughter]

I know that I have an egg eater in one coop, but they're the girls that are in full production. But that could be a possibility.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

I know that I have an egg eater in one coop, but they're the girls that are in full production. But that could be a possibility.

Unfortunately she might be teaching all the others to become egg eaters.