Started laying, then stopped?

[m3shelly]

My three young light brahma hens just began laying (yay) two weeks ago. To my surprise, they laid fifteen eggs the first week, even though I thought one was a few days behind the other two, judging by their color.

Then, this being the end of week two, I only got eight eggs from them!

I am feeding a standard laying pellet, and they're eating well (a lot!). They have fresh water at all times. They get meal worm and popcorn treats.

I keep them in their little coop at night, roam around in a repurposed 12'x12' covered dog kennel during the day, and free range our yard in the evenings after we get home.

They have taken over a cardboard box, located on a small step in the dog kennel, that I use for soiled shavings, as their laying nest.

I just didn't expect the reduced production this early in their lives. Is this normal?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

It is probably normal for Brahmas in September. Depending on your location, days are now probably two hours shorter than at Summer solstice.
Try adding light in the morning to slowly bring day length to 14 hours and they might kick start again due to their young age. If they were a couple years old, they would have to recover from molt before light could cause them to resume laying.

 

[m3shelly]

I have seen others adding light. How? Simply adding a light in their run? Or inside their little coop?

Thanks!!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

It needs to be where they sleep. A light at roost height bright enough to read a newspaper by. A light in the run won't help.
The idea is to simulate longer day length. If they're asleep in the coop, they wouldn't know a light was in the run.
Light enters the skull and is sensed by the pineal gland.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I see that the OP is in Wisconsin, that far North the days are quickly growing short. The fewer the hours of daylight the fewer the number of eggs that a hen will lay.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Fix the light to come on in the early AM and to go off at dusk. This way your hens don't get flummoxed about the correct time to go to bed.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

In most circumstances, the light can go off once it is fully light outside because the chickens won't be in the coop any more.

 

[Trux]

You can put a light in your coop and put it on a timer to give your birds 14 to 15 hrs of light. You just add the number of hours you need and have it turn on before it gets full light outside. So if you are getting full daylight at 0700 and you need say 4 extra hours of light you would set the timer to turn on the lights at 0300

 

[aart]

Good info on supplemental light already given.
Keep in mind tho, it's no guarantee and could take awhile to have an effect.
Also Brahma are not necessarily daily layers, and yes they DO eat a lot.
I loved my Light Brahmas looks and demeanor's,
but their feed to egg ratio was not stellar.

They have taken over a cardboard box, located on a small step in the dog kennel, that I use for soiled shavings, as their laying nest.

Curious, do they not have a nest in the coop?
A cardboard box in the run isn't going to cut it when the snow starts to fly.

 

[m3shelly]

Thanks to everyone for the excellent info!!

I was always wondering the best place to locate the light. Good info.

Yes, I'm in Wisconsin. It's depressing how quickly are days are shortening. Even for us humans. It just happens too fast. Just a month ago, it was light past 9PM! Now, it's getting dark around 7PM.

Regarding their nesting box, I plan on teaching them to use the nests integrated into their coop when it gets cooler out. They just started laying, and they chose the cardboard box. I even put ceramic eggs in the integrated nests, but nope, they had their own plan!

Thanks again! I'll update on the results from adding a light, and my attempts to teach them to use the proper nests.