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what's causing chickens to stop laying??

Discussion in 'Chicken Behaviors and Egglaying' started by tenbensel, Apr 17, 2012.

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  1. Apr 17, 2012 #1
    tenbensel

    tenbensel New Egg

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    We have four chickens now and two guineas. The guineas are laying fine. The chickens however are not.. the weather is pretty mild here in SC. We have had a couple low 30's nights but now it's low 50's highs in the high 70's and lower 80's. All the chickens were on tetracycline for 5 days and have been off of it for 5 days -they are only a year old, the austrolorp has continued to lay, the others aren't laying with the exception of one soft egg that was laid in the yard..not in a nest box? Anybody have any thoughts?? We have had a terrible problem with cankar worms in our oak trees so they are getting plenty of food to eat...thanks so much!
     
  3. Apr 17, 2012 #2
    Domestic_goddess

    Domestic_goddess Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Have they moulted yet, they usually will for the first time a year old. Usually in the spring and or fall, that can cause them to stop laying. But you'll start to notice them losing thier feathers.
     
  5. Apr 18, 2012 #3
    Cindy in PA

    Cindy in PA Overrun With Chickens

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    A decent layer should molt a year or more AFTER they start laying, so 17+ months or so. If they are only a year old, it would be early.
     

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