The whole flock have stopped laying

[Ducksandchickens]

Check EVERYWHERE in the yard.
Chances are good that they are laying in secret—somewhere sneaky!

My ducks did that ! It was so frustrating

 

[wendiwani]

 

[Ducksandchickens]

View attachment 1383000 View attachment 1383001 View attachment 1383002

It looks predator proof. Hmmm I’m stumped

 

[GldnValleyHens]

Couple questions....
Are they free-range?
Do you give them a steady diet? ( layers crumbles, eg.)
When is the last time they have molted?
My flock was in their 3rd year last year, and the egg production slowed to a bare trickle. All spring, all summer. Partly because I made the stupid decision to let them forage for their food, thinking the crickets and grass would be enough. I think that may have been enough for them personally, but not to produce eggs. Now, they are 4 years old but have picked up laying again, even if it isn't daily. Adding new pullets seems to help encourage others to lay, I've noticed

 

[wendiwani]

Couple questions....
Are they free-range?
Do you give them a steady diet? ( layers crumbles, eg.)
When is the last time they have molted?
My flock was in their 3rd year last year, and the egg production slowed to a bare trickle. All spring, all summer. Partly because I made the stupid decision to let them forage for their food, thinking the crickets and grass would be enough. I think that may have been enough for them personally, but not to produce eggs. Now, they are 4 years old but have picked up laying again, even if it isn't daily. Adding new pullets seems to help encourage others to lay, I've noticed

We let them forage/free range during the day, but we provide layers crumbles, cracked corn, leftovers and meal worms. I'm hoping the introduction of the new birds might encourage them to start laying again (hopefully they begin again on their own).

 

[lingon]

I’m still a beginner with all this, but my small flock of barred rocks stopped laying During the heat of summer when they were three years old. When they started again after winter their eggs were oddly misshapen and had calcium deposits. Searching around on here it seemed like maybe they caught some kind of bird sickness and had just recovered from it. I never noticed symptoms other than stopping laying, but like I said, not at all an expert on chicken issues.

 

[GldnValleyHens]

Seems to me then that hens have a period when they are 3 years old where they stop laying. Cycle stops for a while, then picks up? They just don't mention it in the books.

 

[aart]

If they appear to be laying after doing a butt check....lock em up.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

Are they free-range?

Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.

 

[wendiwani]

If they appear to be laying after doing a butt check....lock em up.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/



Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.

Great info, I guess I know what I will be doing this afternoon!

 

[aart]

Great info, I guess I know what I will be doing this afternoon!

I find it much easier to do exams off the roost after dark,
much easier to 'catch' them then.