Stress and Egglaying

[Bring]

My dog keeps breaking into the coop. He isn't chasing the chickens, just checking them out and he drinks their water. Anyway, my chickens are about 20-22 wks old and still no eggs. Could they be getting stressed out by the dog breaking in and not laying because of it?

 

[gottalovemychickens]

That could be one reason and another reason i would go with is that some chickens wont start laying until 24-26 weeks .

 

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

Could also be the heat. Ours have slowed way down.

 

[magsrags]

Stress can stop a hen that is laying alreay on a regular basis.
My neighbor ran a power cleaner last weekend to clean his cement .( only in NY....good grief). he didn't warn me.
My hens freaked out so badly as it came under his fence into their pen....the noise was deafening the neighbors brought their company inside their home....and I ran out...opened up their pen and let them run to where they felt safe. I got my first egg today since. :<((5 days......
So yes, stress can be a factor if hens are already laying eggs and they are traumatized for one reason or another.

 

[mamaKate]

My RIR had to be locked in the coop instead of her normal free ranging. The first day she didn't lay and today she layed on the floor instead of her nest box.