Still no eggs?

[Cowgirl1238]

**NOTE: I have 19 chickens and their coop is completely predator proof.

Hey y'all, I'm the one that started the "chickens randomly dying" thread a while back. I just wanted to give y'all an update and ask a few questions too. A recap.. Back in late September early October I had 4 chickens die over a few days after we got back from 2 week trip. No predators, and we found the automatic waterer shut off when we got back. It was too late by the time I found out I could send them to get tested (the university wants them within 24 hours of death, if not, put on ice). We think poisoning might have been a cause, but DEFINITELY not for sure. My husband had the idea that if they were poisoned through their water, it was shut off to prevent dilution of the poison. Makes sense actually. But the update is ever since then, they've hardly laid any eggs, and they used to lay about 20 to 28 eggs in one day. They quit laying completely til early December, then all of a sudden laid 2 dozen eggs in about a week. Then for the rest of the month they quit laying again. 2 days ago (the 10th of January) we got 2 eggs, then nothing again.

I know it's winter, and lack of sunlight affects their egg production, but they have a window in the chicken coop and also a heater, and a decent amount of space. They are not molting either. What do y'all think? I am completely stumped!! I'm worried about them. Thank you in advance!!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

First thing is it's impossible to get 28 eggs a day out of 19 chickens.

It's not about if there's a window for light, it's about the total number of hours of daylight in each day, 14 hours plus is optimal for triggering laying. Chickens in their natural form will lay a clutch of eggs in spring mostly triggered by increasing daylight and temperatures. Our domesticated birds have been bred to increase their laying as much as possible and to lay nearly year round, but a chicken cannot lay everyday all year, it's physically taxing.

Winter laying can be sporadic or regular based on an individual hen, weather, feed, stress, many things affect it, most hens begin laying more regular by February or March.

Your job is minimize stress, feed them correctly, and give them fresh clean water everyday. Providing extra heat can also be a stressor, because you are altering their ability to acclimate and adjust to the outside temperature.

As long as your chickens aren't suffering from any illnesses they will resume laying when they are ready, we are now past shorter days so it will happen.