Three chickens haven't laid for three weeks--what's up

[ellymilly]

I'm from Saint Paul, MN and I have seven hens. They have a great heathy life with plenty of free-ranging in the yard. Problem my two buff orpingtons and my black Spainish haven't laid for awhile, but my four bantams are laying fine. I recognize their eggs---buffs jumbo, Spainish pale. They are the picture of health. I give them treats of fruit and veggies couple times of day. They have plenty of water. Don't really like their crumbles alot. They have oyster shells. They have a lightblub in their coop that goes off at 10PM. They laid fine before. They only started laying in October--they are a year and two monthes old. Am I giving them too many treats? What could the problem be and is it permanent?

 

[cmom]

Could they be going through a molt. Are you finding any feathers? Heat can also cause them to slow down. Maybe they are taking a vacation. Once in awhile my girls will take a bit of a vacation and my egg count drops off.

 

[ellymilly]

no they're not molting. I hope it is just a vacation!

 

[ellymilly]

The chickens must have heard me talking about them because my Spanish and one O:/ripington laid an egg. Unfortunately the O's egg shell was so thin that when one of my bantams sat on the nest she crushed it. More oyster shells I guess.