Sudden Drop in Egg Production Help??

[katelk]

All of my hens are Orpingtons. They are all about 1 year old.

I know 2 of them may not be laying still after hatching out some chicks this year.
2 others I am suspicious about because they have constantly been trying to be broody, but I have not let them. I am not sure if this would make them stop laying.

I went from getting 8-10 eggs per day (pre-broody) to now getting only 1-2.

I live in TN and the temps have been in the 90s with between 40-50% humidity so I have been working around the clock to keep them cool. I keep them with fresh cold water and if I see any panting I spray them down with the hose.

Their coop is in a spot of constant shade, so it stays as cool as it's going to. They free range all day though. Their yard is grassy and I have let the grass get high enough to be as tall as the hens. I figure they can lay in the tall grass (which they love) and keep a bit cooler, but they also have access to plenty of shade.

I know the tall grass will make it easy for them to set up a daily egg hunt for me. I have been combing the yard eachh evening and usually find most eggs hidden somewhere, but I still feel like they are not laying. I search everywhere and only find 1-2, usually in the same spot.
They also have access to their nest boxes.
Anyone have any ideas where the eggs have gone?
Thanks!

 

[Mrs. K]

When mine make a sudden drop like that, they have a hidden nest. What I do is sit down near them with my coffee and wait for the song.

I don't think they are molting, probably will this fall, and that would be the other reason that the egg production drops. Excess heat can make them cut back too, but I would not expect that much drop.

You might have to lock them up for the morning, to get them to lay in the nests again.

Mrsk

 

[katelk]

When mine make a sudden drop like that, they have a hidden nest. What I do is sit down near them with my coffee and wait for the song.

I don't think they are molting, probably will this fall, and that would be the other reason that the egg production drops. Excess heat can make them cut back too, but I would not expect that much drop.

You might have to lock them up for the morning, to get them to lay in the nests again.

Mrsk

This evening I looked again and found one egg hidden in the yard, one on the coop floor, and 3 in a nest. This is the most I have gotten in awhile and today the weather had cooled off significantly after a big storm came through yesterday. I did not think the heat would make such a dramatic difference, but now I am not sure! I imagine they had been miserable though, because I am usually an outdoors all the time person and lately it has been so hot and humid sweat just starts pouring simply from walking outside. I guess I need to figure out some better ways to keep them cool.

 

[aart]

The want to be broodies may have stopped laying.

I've read that free range hens have to be 're-homed' to lay in the coop nests every once in a while.
Leaving them locked in the coop all day for 3-4 days or at least until mid afternoons(mine are usually done by then), might give you a more accurate count of who's laying and get them habituated to using the nests again.

 

[bobbi-j]

I think it's a combination of things. Broodiness, hidden nests and the heat. I know mine will drop in production when it's super hot out (I'm in MN - that means anything over 90 for me

) I don't know if you can keep them cool enough to continue laying, or if you should just ride it out. I just wait until it cools down and they pick up again. If it's so hot where you are, I don't know if you want to keep them locked in the coop to recalibrate them to the nest box or not. It may not make any difference and just cause them more stress. I'd do as Mrs. K suggested and just go hang out there if you can, watch where they go (don't let them know you're watching - they like to think they're being sneaky), listen for the egg song and watch where they come from. One thing I do when I find a hidden nest. I mark an egg and leave it there so they will continue laying in that spot. At least I know where to look that way.

 

[Mrs. K]

One thing I do when I find a hidden nest. I mark an egg and leave it there so they will continue laying in that spot. At least I know where to look that way.


been there, done that, works good! If it is hot, I would not lock them in a coop. However, I do sometimes have to leave the locked up in the run/coop so that they start laying in the nests again.

 

[bobbi-j]

One thing I do when I find a hidden nest. I mark an egg and leave it there so they will continue laying in that spot. At least I know where to look that way.


been there, done that, works good! If it is hot, I would not lock them in a coop. However, I do sometimes have to leave the locked up in the run/coop so that they start laying in the nests again.

Oh yeah, I wouldn't hesitate to lock them in a run with attached coop so they can go in and out. I do that, too.