Stopped laying?

[Mandi M]

Hi All!

My flocks egg production has gone way down and I can't figure out why? Some of my hens seemed to just stop laying all together. Any ideas?

Thanks!!

 

[Sapphire Sebright]

Is it very hot where you live? High temperatures can cause a decrease in egg production.
They might also be laying them somewhere else. Hiding them and making a clutch, which one or two hens may or may not decide to brood.
Sickness can also cause hens to stop laying. Have they been acting odd lately?

 

[Mandi M]

They seem to be acting fine- they free range so it is possible they are hiding but I did try keeping them in their coop much later in the day one day and didn't see a difference. We have had a couple of hot days. By hot I mean 90's but that is after a few weeks of 60s and 70s. I am in upstate NY so it doesn't get that hot here normally, not to mention it snowed in May. Maybe the weather change is confusing them?

 

[Sapphire Sebright]

Maybe. And I assume that they're getting plenty of food, water, and sunlight.
Did you change to a new brand of feed? That could be messing them up a bit, too.
Keep in mind, also, that chickens don't always lay in the morning. I've gotten eggs at twelve in the afternoon before.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

Are they in an enclosed run? If not, you could have some naughty egg layers. I had two instances where my gals starting laying in the middle of the woods!

 

[Mandi M]

They are not in a run, they free range. I do have a run though maybe if I close them in for a day or two I can see if that makes a difference.

 

[Mandi M]

Maybe. And I assume that they're getting plenty of food, water, and sunlight.
Did you change to a new brand of feed? That could be messing them up a bit, too.
Keep in mind, also, that chickens don't always lay in the morning. I've gotten eggs at twelve in the afternoon before.

No change in food but yes lots of food and water and sun. I did introduce some new members into our flock a few weeks ago, maybe they are still adjusting to that.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

It worked for me, but now my wayward layer is back to laying in the woods. I'm going to luck them in the run for a couple of weeks to introduce pullets to the big flock so I'm hoping that'll fix her for good. The problem is if you can't find the eggs, she will feel the desire to lay there again when she sees the. In my case, I found the eggs the first time this happened and now I can't find them.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

What time do you open up the coop in the morning?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Are they molting?