Six free range hens stopped laying in their nesting boxes

[Chicken Sue]

Our six hens, three barred rock, two marans, and an Americana have been dependable layers laying about four eggs a day. They have suddenly stopped. laying in their nesting boxes. we found 14 eggs is an old coop never used and far away from their coop. they have free range and sleep in cozy coop. why would they do this? we have now closed access to the old coop but still no eggs for the last week. Thanks for any help,
Chicken Sue, Salem Oregon May 25, 2022.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Why? Because they are bird brains, literally.

Free ranging hens begin to think freely about where they lay. It only takes one for them to dog pile and lay there too.

The best thing is to lock them in the coop for a week or two to get them laying in their nest boxes again.

As to why they aren't laying. I'm not sure Chicken Sue. I'm in Beaverton (just north of you) and my hens were laying great in April first part of May, but suddenly they have significantly lightened up.

We have had really wacky weather through May....some really warm, sunny days, followed by really dark, cloudy cold days. I think it's thrown off their internal hormones (they need 14 hours of light a day to lay well).

I'm waiting for mine to lay well again. I treated with Ivermectin just in case it was a parasite build up, but I think it's the crazy weather we've been getting.

LofMc

 

[Chicken Sue]

Why? Because they are bird brains, literally.

Free ranging hens begin to think freely about where they lay. It only takes one for them to dog pile and lay there too.

The best thing is to lock them in the coop for a week or two to get them laying in their nest boxes again.

As to why they aren't laying. I'm not sure Chicken Sue. I'm in Beaverton (just north of you) and my hens were laying great in April first part of May, but suddenly they have significantly lightened up.

We have had really wacky weather through May....some really warm, sunny days, followed by really dark, cloudy cold days. I think it's thrown off their internal hormones (they need 14 hours of light a day to lay well).

I'm waiting for mine to lay well again. I treated with Ivermectin just in case it was a parasite build up, but I think it's the crazy weather we've been getting.

LofMc

Thank you. maybe will try locking in coop for a while. our weather has not been too bad. we lost 14 eggs that sat too long before we found them. hope to get back to normal.