stopped laying

[beeksnfeet]

3 weeks ago, I removed 1 chicken from my coop/run for being nasty and causing injury to the others. I had been getting 2 to 3 eggs every other day from 5 chickens. The girls completely stopped laying the day I removed the one nasty bird. This past week I had to remove another and send her off to Cluckatraz as I stated in a previous thread. The first to be removed has layed nearly everyday sine September and still continues, even tho she is in jail. But those in the coop/run have not layed since. Is this normal or just a coincidence? I do not know which of Buffs was laying in the first place, but I do know for a fact ,that the 2 Plymouth Rocks have layed and continue to lay well. Also, the Buffs will not go on the roost in the coop, one sleeping on the floor and the other 2 in the nesting boxes. They are all 10 months old. Any ideas?

 

[Judy]

Chickens don't like change. I would guess they are adjusting to the changes.

 

[beeksnfeet]

Chickens don't like change.  I would guess they are adjusting to the changes.

I thought the same thing, but feel like 3 weeks might have been too long. Oh well, I guess time will tell. They are doing good being seperated & they are eating well, so I will just give em more time. Thanks for the reply!

 

[1876 Farm]

About them not roosting... you should go out each night and physically place them on the roost (if possible)... after a few days they should start roosting themselves.

Also, if you are using a light to extend the daylight hours, make sure you are extending the morning hours and not the night... since they might be caught off the roost when the light goes out. Then they can't see to get on the roost.

Where are you located in IL/WI? I'm in South Beloit, about 1/8th of a mile from the Wisconsin Border.

 

[beeksnfeet]

About them not roosting... you should go out each night and physically place them on the roost (if possible)... after a few days they should start roosting themselves.  

Also, if you are using a light to extend the daylight hours, make sure you are extending the morning hours and not the night... since they might be caught off the roost when the light goes out.  Then they can't see to get on the roost. 

Where are you located in IL/WI?  I'm in South Beloit, about 1/8th of a mile from the Wisconsin Border. 

I will start putting them on the roost at night and hope it works. The two girls in the nesting boxes will be a challange. Kinda hard to get them out of there, but will definately put them up there too. We do no suppliment light, but thanks for the info. I didn't know only the a.m. light should be increased! Learn somethin' new every day.

I am located in the Chain O' Lakes area, just a few minutes from the Chedder Curtain myself! Nice to know ya neighbor!

 

[1876 Farm]

Good luck!!! I had a hen that was sleeping in one of the nesting boxes, I just went out each night and pushed her out into the main coop area (didn't even have to place her on the roost)... after a few days she was sleeping on the roost with the others.

You might also have problems some day when you integrate new birds with the established ones. Some of ours would be sleeping outside, under the coop, we would go out and put them in the coop. I heard that when the hens wake up in the morning and look at the hen sleeping next to them, they sort of forget that there weren't suppose to be there and they get used to each other.

There is always something interesting going on with chickens!!

 

[Mtn Laurel]

I used to block off the nesting boxes when my girls were sleeping in the nests. I would prop up a piece of wood in front of the nest so they couldn't enter. Only thing is you have to make sure you unblock the nests early in the morning so they can lay. I also had two pullets that quit laying last January and one pullet - she's about 9 mos. old - that has just quit laying within the last week. The two girls from last January were going through a "mini-molt" and I've noticed a lot of feathers under the roost so am thinking that's what's going on with my 9 month old.

Is it possible your 10 mo. old could be doing the same?

 

[beeksnfeet]

I used to block off the nesting boxes when my girls were sleeping in the nests. I would prop up a piece of wood in front of the nest so they couldn't enter. Only thing is you have to make sure you unblock the nests early in the morning so they can lay. I also had two pullets that quit laying last January and one pullet - she's about 9 mos. old - that has just quit laying within the last week. The two girls from last January were going through a "mini-molt" and I've noticed a lot of feathers under the roost so am thinking that's what's going on with my 9 month old. 

Is it possible your 10 mo. old could be doing the same? 

So glad you responded. I too have seen more then a usual amount of feathers lately. Never had them molt before and thought that was just a fall thing. Now more and more of what has been happening is making sense. Still no excuse for the original she-devil injuring the others and having to seperate the 2 Plymouth Rocks from the Buffs. But the feathers, no eggs.......makes sense now. How long does this last?

I'm getting ready to go out and put my girls on the roost. Hopefully they will remember and get the hang of it again. Thanks!

 

[beeksnfeet]

Good luck!!!  I had a hen that was sleeping in one of the nesting boxes, I just went out each night and pushed her out into the main coop area (didn't even have to place her on the roost)... after a few days she was sleeping on the roost with the others.   

You might also have problems some day when you integrate new birds with the established ones.  Some of ours would be sleeping outside, under the coop, we would go out and put them in the coop.  I heard that when the hens wake up in the morning and look at the hen sleeping next to them, they sort of forget that there weren't suppose to be there and they get used to each other.  

There is always something interesting going on with chickens!!

Just wanted to let you know I put Margo on the roost last night and am going out now to do it again. She gruffled a bit when I did and the other two did NOT appreciate being nudged out of the nesting boxes but so far all is good. Hopefully in a few more days I won't need to do that anymore.

 

[1876 Farm]

Just wanted to let you know I put Margo on the roost last night and am going out now to do it again. She gruffled a bit when I did and the other two did NOT appreciate being nudged out of the nesting boxes but so far all is good. Hopefully in a few more days I won't need to do that anymore.

Especially with the cold headed back our way for this week... I hope she learned from your efforts last night.