What happened?

[mysunraedreams]

I'm baffled. My older girls stopped laying for about 6 months. I brought in new baby chicks two weeks ago and suddenly the old girls are laying again! How is this possible? Older hens are in a seperate coop right next to young chickens. Was it the babies peeping that cranked back the clock on the older girls?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Most hens are resuming finally after quitting last fall. The increasing daylight causes hormones to surge, and birds come back into production.

 

[mysunraedreams]

Most hens are resuming finally after quitting last fall. The increasing daylight causes hormones to surge, and birds come back into production.

They didnt stop last year. Last year they layed 360 days.

 

[lazy gardener]

Was last year their first laying year? Second year is not as likely to be as productive. Agreed, coincidence re: new chicks and return to laying of older birds.

 

[mysunraedreams]

Was last year their first laying year? Second year is not as likely to be as productive. Agreed, coincidence re: new chicks and return to laying of older birds.

2nd

 

[lazy gardener]

They were hatched during spring of 2016?

 

[aart]

Good to give ages in months.

My older girls stopped laying for about 6 months.

This leads us to believe that your birds are 18-24 months old and they stopped laying during winter due to lack of daylight and molting(which may have been obvious.... or not)