Total chaos

[CJONESFAY]

Well, knowing that my hens are getting older and lost a few over the year to a predator. I added 30 new ones and have them about 8 weeks old put them out near the older ones but not in same run. The older ones can see them but can not get in their pen. A couple of the hens pace back and forth around the new peeps. The egg production went down and now has stopped. A few are in molt so expected that. But now nobody is laying for about a week now. The only change is the peeps out near them and of course the weather and molt. But stopped totally laying was not expecting that at all. Has anyone else had this experience?

 

[Acre4Me]

yes, this can happen. Not expected for all of them to stop, but it is possible. Also, if you are not supplementing light, they may have stopped production due to not enough light for enough hours of the day since winter is coming.

 

[CJONESFAY]

yes, this can happen. Not expected for all of them to stop, but it is possible. Also, if you are not supplementing light, they may have stopped production due to not enough light for enough hours of the day since winter is coming.

we have plenty of daylight here still but guess they really pissed off I let them free range during day but now most hide in house except for the older ones that are marching around new birds pen. I coax them out with mealy worms but they head back in coop afterwards. Just was surprised at their reaction. Have had a few new ones never this many new bees before, but between the molt too guess they will be ok .

 

[Acre4Me]

we have plenty of daylight here still but guess they really pissed off I let them free range during day but now most hide in house except for the older ones that are marching around new birds pen. I coax them out with mealy worms but they head back in coop afterwards. Just was surprised at their reaction. Have had a few new ones never this many new bees before, but between the molt too guess they will be ok .

We have older pullets and hens that will stalk the fence line when there are chicks in the smaller enclosure. Others are interested, then ignore.

If you are moving towards winter, then you have decreasing light. The pineal gland in a chicken's head senses light amount and tells their body accordingly to up production or decrease/stop production. So, if they are not getting around 14 hours of light a day, and it is decreasing, then that may be a contributing factor as well. We supplement light with a timer, adding light in the morning hours, but even so, our chickens always decrease egg production in the fall/ winter. We supplement light so they will continue to give us some eggs every day.

 

[aart]

The only change is the peeps out near them and of course the weather and molt. But stopped totally laying was not expecting that at all. Has anyone else had this experience?

Do they free range at all?
Could just be an unhappy coincidence, molting and new bird stress.
How long since the new birds were added and the eggs stopped?

we have plenty of daylight here

Where is here?
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[CJONESFAY]

Do they free range at all?
Could just be an unhappy coincidence, molting and new bird stress.
How long since the new birds were added and the eggs stopped?


Where is here?
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!
View attachment 2376266

yes they have the option of daily free range but unhappy and here is nc coast so about 13-14 hours of daylight still

 

[aart]

yes they have the option of daily free range but unhappy and here is nc coast so about 13-14 hours of daylight still

They may be laying out in range area.


Might be time for some exams:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

Then.....
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/run 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.

11 1/4 hours of daylight in Wilmington NC today.

 

[CJONESFAY]

nope the chickens are staying closer since I put out the new peeps but the guineas free range lay but I know where their nests are and check them daily....chickens have always laid in their boxes or coops they never have free range laid they are out by 7 am but always put themselves up by 6pm thanks for the advice and suggestions.

 

[aart]

chickens have always laid in their boxes or coops they never have free range laid

They might now with the 'invasion' of all those new birds.

 

[CJONESFAY]

They might now with the 'invasion' of all those new birds.

If anything they hang closer to coops and runs they not wandering far away but I will keep searching ty