What's happening to my eggs? 7 eggs a day out of 21 hens!

[Mulemom]

Can anyone help me figure out what is wrong with my hens? I have 21 hens (and one roo) about two years old. They have slowed to about 6 to 7 eggs a day. They used to be big eggs and now they are small, and the shells are thin. The girls seem to be behaving normally and I just don't have any idea what could be going on.

What should I do?

 

[EngieKisses]

Do they have oyster shell available? If not then that could be why you have thin shells.
My chickens have slowed down and the eggs have gotton smaller here too. One of my austerlorps that usually lays eggs larger than my cartons can hold layed one the same size as my bantys do last week. However, this started when the thermometer rose, and does every year, even with frozen 2 liters and we mist them down and change their water when it warms through out the day. They just do not like heat. In the spring we were averaging 8-9 eggs a day. Now we averaging around 4.
I do hope this helps some.

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

i try to regulate the amount of bagged food i give my gals - but i know that i'm not giving enough when egg productions slows. mostly mine free range and i supplement with corn and milk from the goats. but i feed layer ration at nite.

or

are they molting???


or

are they scared? sometimes if there is a new predator around it will freak them out.

or as engiekisses said - are they over hot?? i know that several people have said the heat is killing their egg production

sorry - anybody else???

 

[TexasVet]

Could be a snake is getting some of your eggs. As a rule, they come out when the temp is 80 degrees or below, so at night and early morning. A small snake can take an egg a day. The 4-footers I caught last year had 2-3 lumps (eggs) each in their bellies.

Kathy, Bellville TX
www.CountryChickens.com, www.PivotalForce.com

 

[monathequeen]

I would consider snakes as well...I had a major slowing period this summer too. I really think the heat is slowing them down. I do have snakes and they have been around but this time, I think it's the heat. It takes alot out of them so stay cool so maby their using all their energy during the day...it's been above 100 here.

 

[wawafiveseven]

Maybe theyre taking turns??

lol, just playin'

like stated before me, make sure they have oyster shells and are not eating thier own eggs

 

[2boxers]

Snakes. I killed two. Well, I didn't kill them, I ran away screaming like scared girl. My husband killed them. That could truly be your problem.

But from what you said, I would suggest making sure they have enough cool water & a good cool place to chill out.

 

[Mulemom]

Thanks everyone. I think it must be the heat. I mixed some oyster shell in with their food to make sure everyone is getting some. I have it in a seperate feeder in the coop, but it never seems to dissappear. They have a really large run with lots of shade. In fact it will be raining wild grapes on them later in the year! I haven't let them free range in quite a while. Lots of new dogs in the neighborhood and I'm afraid I'd lose chickens and friends over that one.

We do have snakes around here, but I can't imagine a snake getting past the chickens. They'd eat a small one, and wouldn't a big one just eat the chicken?

Come to think of it......I had a bluebird nest where the eggs and then the babies dissapeared one a day. I moved the nest box, and we haven't had that problem since.....That kind of sounds like snake too, huh?

 

[RendonRoo]

Put some fake eggs around the outside of the coop. The snakes will sometimes eat them and choke. Good Luck