Two-Year-Old Leghorns Stopped Laying

[devora]

I have two 2-year-old Leghorns that have stopped laying completely. It's been a month and a half. They are not ill, not in a moult, not in any way changed. They still squat for me (no roo in our coop) so they seem to think they are still breeding.

Up until this work stoppage they were egg machines. It's spring here, they laid all winter.

Any ideas? It's odd they both stopped at the same time!

Thanks for any input.

 

[chicmom]

A few possibilities.....

Could they be older than you think?

Do they get to free range? Maybe they are laying in a "secret spot"......

Could a critter be eating their eggs?

 

[devora]

Those are all good ideas, but I don't think they apply here. I raised them from chicks so unless I've lost a year or two in my brain (not impossible!), they are two. Free range is very limited, coop is secure.

I'll tell ya, I'm stumped!

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

White Leghorns are a production geared breed, and they tend to start slowing down around this age.

But, it really could be anything. The weather could be messing with them, something creeping around outside or inside their coop at whatever time, a simple change in routine, surroundings or feed (some of my hens are so finicky, they'll stop laying if I move the feeder or drinker), internal or external parasites or maybe they've just decided they need a break after all of their winter laying.

Anything ring a bell?

 

[devora]

Thanks for the ideas, nothing new here that would bother them as far as I can tell.

The bit about them being production makes sense, but I thought they would slow down, not quit on me altogether! And it stumps me that both of them stopped at the same time.

Ah, well, I guess it'll just be one more of the million "Chicken Mysteries."