what is going on?

[embkm]

In my younger flock, I have 5 girls that started laying in August. Through August and first part of Sept, i was getting 4-5 eggs (3 brown, 1 green, 1 blue) from them. Then suddenly, no more eggs from my EEers. Still getting abotu 2 brown eggs per day, but no blue or green eggs.

I thought something was stealing them, but the only thing i can think that would go after eggs and leave the chickens alone are rats. But would rats only take the blue and green eggs and leave the brown? And would they take them and leave no trace behind?
Usually, snakes would eat all the eggs and still be laying around digesting when I go out, so I ruled them out.

So then I thought, Maybe it was a 2 legged thief. So I put on the padlock. It hasn't changed the missing blue and green eggs.

Seriously.... i expected a decrease due to the time of year, but I havent' gotten an egg from either EE in 3 weeks. Any ideas about what is going on? Please help!

BTW.... my older flock are in heavy molt and with decreasing light and I am still getting about 4 eggs per day from 6 hens.

 

[H2OKarensa]

My EE's aren't laying either. And Everyone else is!
I'm interested to see if anyone has a clue also.

 

[Uppity Peon]

2 of my 6 EE hens I confirmed were laying whitish eggs for a short while but they appear to have stopped. I'm not using any artificial light on them but somewhere I had heard they were capable of laying through the winter. But maybe not at this lattitude (45).

They never did use my nest boxes though. I'm afraid they may have a new hiding spot.

 

[mrbstephens]

I confirmed today that both of my EEs who had been laying very well for the past few months have completely stopped laying. They do on occassion sit in the nesting box and sing the egg song but no egg. My BA who has recently started to lay is continuing to lay like clockwork. I think it's the breed?

 

[Uppity Peon]

Actually I don't think EEs are consistent. Being a mutt breed, your results may vary more than with other breeds.

 

[Imp]

My EE hasn't layed in weeks, but she's always been very erratic.

Imp

 

[embkm]

OK... so it's not unheard of for a 7 month old pullet to go for 3 or more weeks without laying? So I should quit worrying about them and just be patient?

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

afraid to post..........both my EE girls are laying. One is a 2 year old and the other is 31 weeks.

Please, do not tell my EE girls that some girls take breaks.

 

[cackilacky]

My EE isn't laying either. She actually has never laid an egg since I've had her, as she was molting when I got her. I have noticed that she puts herself to roost much earlier than my Buff Orp. Wonder if she's more sensitive to light or lack thereof and if this could have anything to do with not laying? Sheer speculation, and probably nonsense, but something I was thinking about.

 

[Tala]

Maybe they need more protein or some nutrient that they just need more of than your other birds??