Stopped Laying?

[angelb]

Hi all! We have a mixed flock of 11 girls that are all 8 months old. They have been laying great for us with an average of 7-8 eggs a day, even without supplemental lighting in these winter months. Starting 3 days ago, we have not gotten a single egg. They recieve free access to layer feed all the time and we give them all sorts of table scraps too, but of course no avocados, chocolate, etc. that they shouldn't have. It's been cold here in Michigan, but we chose all cold-hardy breeds and have a heater in their water. I am suspecting that someone is sneaking in and stealing the eggs, but is there anything else that could cause them all to stop laying on the same day? I just want to know if there's any physical issues I should be checking them for?

 

[detali]

It's winter and I hear Michigan has had some nasty weather. I think your birds just got tired of producing in the dark and dismal winter and are taking a break. They will start up again once the days get longer and it gets warmer.

 

[chicmom]

Have you checked around really well to make sure that there are no signs of any predators? Chickens are very sensitive and maybe something has upset them. Is there anything you've changed in the coop/nesting area.....just a few things to think about....

Sharon

 

[goosemama]

Last year I used a light on a timer that provided 14 hours of light. They were in an unheated coop but with a heated waterer and never ran out of layer mash plus kitchen scraps. I always had eggs all through the winter. This year I have my hens in a larger henhouse w/heat - haven't had to use the artificial light and the egg production is great - no doubt because of the supplemental heat. I have whittled my flock down to 6 Red Star pullets, 2 Leghorns, 3 Welsummers (all about 9 months old) plus 4 older Barred Rocks 2+ years old. I get 10-12 eggs a day.

 

[sheridangirl]

I have 3 flocks of 15 or more hens 1 of which I keep in an enclosed yard with a chicken coop and laying boxes so I can make sure I have eggs. For quite a while I have only been getting 2 eggs per day, if I was lucky. So on Monday, I read on the site about folks using cayenne pepper or pepper flakes and it seemed to work so I thought I would try it and fed them hot pepper flakes and this morning my husband collected 7 eggs!!!! So I fed them some more pepper flakes mixed in with some bread pieces today. I hope it keeps working.
Something else to consider is they may be eating them, I know some of my chickens eat eggs because I have seen some cracks on the eggs that look like they were pecked. I also know that my dogs will eat any eggs that they can find. My border collie will actually sit by the nest of my free range chickens and wait for the chicken to lay the egg, then she gets it while it is still warm.
I love animals....Good Luck
Lynn