Stopped laying eggs

[danial]

So my friend has six chickens they laid about five eggs a day now they lay maybe one. No change in food or water the only change I can think of is the temperature. He lives in Meifee California. And it has gone from the high 70s to the high 90s.

 

[Chickenchick11]

So my friend has six chickens they laid about five eggs a day now they lay maybe one. No change in food or water the only change I can think of is the temperature. He lives in Meifee California. And it has gone from the high 70s to the high 90s.

How old are they? What breed(s) are they?

 

[danial]

Just under one year old. Rhode Island red.

 

[danial]

And there's some kind of ground squirrel varmint that keeps digging underneath the side of the coop and getting inside. I don't think he is taking the eggs though.

 

[drumstick diva]

I wouldn't be surprised that he is taking the eggs. Either that or some other egg thief. Do your hens use the nest boxes or just free range and drop them anywhere? Could some of your hens be broody and have a hidden nest?

 

[chickens r life]

I raised all my coops up about a half a foot off the ground for that reason.

Before we fixed this coop up it looked like a huge piece of garbage and to make matters worse, rats would best under it. After it sat on the ground waiting to be used for a about 30 years, we raised it with a bobcat, put blocks under it, some new nesting boxes, a lil' paint and it's as good as new!!!

 

[danial]

Yes they do use the nesting boxes there's about six of them. The boxes are off the ground about a foot and a half. They also nest under the ramp sometimes. Forgot to mention he also has two white ducks that he bought to lay eggs. The building is about 10 x 10 sits on the ground it's just the dirt ground with straw/hay. With a 1 x 1' hole to outside pen about 10 x 20 fenced in. There is one egg and one of the nest I'm going to leave it in there for a few days and see if it disappears. If it doesn't disappear maybe they just don't feel like laying eggs. Think I will go to animal control asked to borrow a trap for that varmint and then catch it and relocate it.

 

[danial]

I miss having fresh eggs every morning.

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

 

[danial]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

Thank you