What happened to my egg production?

[nep big red]

I have 16 hens - no roosters. My 2 year old hens consist of 5 Rhode Islañd Reds and 3 Buff Orpington. Last year about this time, we added 8 Golden Comets. Needless to say, when the Comet baby chicks came home, they had some “growing up” to do before they were allowed to be in with my one year olds. Although we did have some posturing & a little bit of bullying going on when they first joined the rest of the group, aait doesn’t appear to be as frequent as it was.
All of a sudden, my egg production dropped dramatically from up to 14 a day to 9 a day. It’s been a month now where the egg count has been reduced. The Golden Comets started laying last August and I was getting an average of 12 a day prior to a month ago.
Their coop is quite ample space for 16 hens. They are let out into a fenced in area every morning. The area is VERY ample - to the point we can call them free range. They have layer crumbles & water available to them 24/7. Every evening they get a “treat” - mealworms, sunflower seeds & scratch - about 1/2 cup of each.
Any ideas?

 

[hysop]

Maybe reduce the amount of treats. They may not be eating enough of the layer* crumbles because they know you have treats waiting for them. Have you always given them that much in treats?

 

[ChickNanny13]

2x @hysop Cut out the treats & just do their feed & water for a bit, see how that works. How many nest boxes do you have out? It's also very possible that they have hidden nests if they're "free ranging".

 

[nep big red]

I just cut back on their treats a couple days ago, wondering if that was part of the problem.
Nesting boxes - there’s 9. One particular one seems to be the favorite, as we find the majority of eggs in it every day!

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'm guessing you are in the northern hemisphere, probably the US, from hints in your post. That makes molting less likely. Still molting is the most common reason for a drop in egg production like this and it is possible some could be. Different things besides the days getting shorter can trigger a partial or even full molt. Are you seeing a lot of feathers floating around?

Do you know which ones are no longer laying? That might be a hint. Also, have you changed the lighting so that the length of day they perceive is different. Maybe due to daylight saving time?

Another real common reason for them to stop laying is that they are hiding a nest from you. That would go a long way of explaining why it is a consistent number.

Most critters, including the chickens, that might be eating eggs leave some signs. That can be egg shells or at least wet spots. It's possible your hens could clean up the egg shells after an egg eating predator but not especially likely. Another things against it being something eating the eggs is that the number is consistent. Usually if critters are involved the number is up and down.

The critters that leave no sign are typically snakes, canines, or humans. It is not a snake. A snake eats a few eggs, how many depends on its size, then goes away for a few days to digest them before it comes back for more. Most canines, fox or coyote if you are in the US, would probably be more interested in your chickens than the eggs. Dogs, on the other hand, may eat eggs and not bother the hens. Does a dog have access?

I'll leave it to you to decide if a human is responsible, sometimes as a practical joke.

Improper diet, which I don't think you are doing, would not cause a sudden change in production like this. That would be a lot more gradual.

So what can you do? You can inspect their vents, take them off the roost at night so they are easy to catch. If the vent is big, soft, and moist they are laying, at least occasionally. If the vent is dry and tight they are not.

If possible lock them in the coop only or the coop and a smaller run. If you start seeing eggs either they are hiding a nest or you locked something out that was getting the eggs.

Mark a few eggs and leave hem down there. If they disappear then something is getting them.

 

[Acre4Me]

Check for hidden nests.

Check for any evidence of egg eating although with that big of a reduction, you would have probably already figured that problem out.

do any look like they are molting? We have had spring hatched chicks molt at 11-12 months old.

any way humans could be the culprit? Is the coop accessible to walking paths or neighbors? It is a more common problem than I would have thought.

good luck

 

[aart]

Last year about this time, we added 8 Golden Comets.

So they've been all living together since last summer?

Their coop is quite ample space for 16 hens.

What does this mean in feet by feet?
Dimensions and pics would be most helpful.

The area is VERY ample

Again....dimensions and pics would be most helpful.
You may need to confine them to the coop for most the day for 'nest training'.

Nesting boxes - there’s 9. One particular one seems to be the favorite, as we find the majority of eggs in it every day!

Put a fake egg in each nest, to help 'spread the love'.

Also would be good to know......
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!

 

[nep big red]

I never thought about putting my geographic location for cases such as this!
I’m located just outside of Springfield, TN - 1/2 hour north of Nashville & 1/2 hour south of Kentucky border.
I’m attaching a few pictures that I have on my phone right now. I’ve included one where there’s 2 hens in the “favorite” nesting box! The “run” area is approximately 100’ x 65’. It’s BIG! There’s one showing the side of our barn that IS the chicken coop. Yes - the entire side of the barn. It’s about 35’ x 12’.

 

[nep big red]

They’ve already molted ... they did that in late January & February. Since their molt, they were laying as usual.
For a human to get in, they’d have to get into our fenced in & gated backyard. We live in the country but have neighbors within eyesight. And no one that I can think of would pull that kind of prank.
We have had a lot of rain ... and I do mean a lot! The only place there could possibly be a hidden nest outside would be in the tree line on the back of our property/chicken run. And we’ve not found anything. The back of the barn is open to them - and we’ve checked that area. Looking behind things, moving things away from the walls, etc. Nothing.
My husband asked, since they’re considered free range, have I paid their cell phone bill!! (Remember the Geico commercial?)
I’m really hoping cutting back on the amount of “treat” they get in the evening will do the trick. I figure if that’s the issue, I should start seeing more eggs within the next week.
I will let you know what happens. Stay tuned!

 

[nep big red]

Maybe these two pictures of their run will give you a better idea of the size.
The wire fence is 50’.