Very Few Eggs

[MaineChickenGuy]

I have 7 hens that acquired in the spring of

 

[Free Feather]

... what?

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Must've hit reply before they were finished?

 

[MaineChickenGuy]

Yes. Hit "send" before I was finished. Sorry about that. Got 7 hens in spring of '13. They've been very consistent layers since the fall of '13, even during the winter with a supplemental light source. Within the last few months, however, egg production has significantly declined to the point where I'm only getting one egg/day. I've checked for pests (none), had a stool sample checked by a vet (negative for parasites), totally cleaned out the coop, and feed them Green Mtn Organic Feed. coukd it just be that they're past their prime? By the way, I've got 2 Buffs, 2 Golden Comets, 2 NH Reds, & 1 Aericana (sp??).

 

[Free Feather]

They are not old enough yet to be dropping that much. Do they free range? They could be hiding them. Someone could be eating them as well, either a chicken or a predator like a possum.

 

[MaineChickenGuy]

Thanks for the response, Feather. They free range a few times a week but I'm still only getting 1-2 eggs on the days when they're in their coop/pen all day. And I've searched the laying boxes for egg fragments/yolk residue and haven't found anything. Ive even placed a few "marked" eggs in the boxes to see if they would get eaten and they were still there 2-3 days later.

 

[MaineChickenGuy]

Does it matter that I've had a light in their coop during the winter months? I've read some posts that say it's better for chickens if they are allowed to stop laying in the winter.

 

[Free Feather]

Does it matter that I've had a light in their coop during the winter months? I've read some posts that say it's better for chickens if they are allowed to stop laying in the winter.

I have heard that lights in the coops can cause them to burn out earlier or develop reproductive issues, but I am not sure that that is what it is. Could anything around there be stressing them out, like predators or changes? I had a drop in eggs for a while, and it turned out that a possum and two raccoons were harassing them and eating eggs at night for a long time before they started picking off birds.

 

[keesmom]

When was the last time they went through a molt?

 

[aart]

So they are about 2 years old?
Have they been thru a full adult molt?

I've used supplemental lighting thru 2 winters now......and I believe it does screw up their molt.
Usually they molt in late summer/fall with the reduction of daylight....using supplemental light can alter that 'schedule'.
I had older birds laying thru winter then molting in summer.

Soo.... look for feathers.