When does egg production decrease?

[sweetpea03]

We have 35 chickens that range in age from 1 1/2 years to 2 1/2 years. The older chickens are Leghorns, and the younger chickens are Barred Rocks. We were getting around 30 eggs a day towards the beginning of the summer. Now we're lucky to get 12. This has been going on for about a month or longer. Is it due to old age...even though I don't feel like they're "old". Any thoughts?

TIA!

 

[aoxa]

It could be due to the days getting shorter.. Could be due to parasites.. Could be due to molt.

Are any losing feathers? None of mine have started moulting yet.

Decreation hasn't started for my 2.5 year old RSL yet. That's the oldest hen I have. She is my best layer. The rest range from just babies to 2 years.

 

[sweetpea03]

I'm pretty sure I'm the MOST ignorant chicken "farmer" ever! Every time I think I know all there is to know, something happens! With that said, I don't think the girls are molting, but I could be wrong! I haven't noticed anything out of the ordinary with their feathers, but I've read that a lot of chickens molt in the fall so who knows.

We haven't noticed any parasites (and I've been scouring the coops..sort of!), but I know external parasites can be hard to spot.

I'm not sure if this can cause any issues, but we do have 4 bantam roosters that are on the younger side. They were hatched in April. They are NOT in the actual coop with the girls, but they are in the same barn. We turned an old cow barn into our chicken coop! Crazy, I'm sure, but it works!

Anyway, the girls are never in contact with the roos, but the boys do crow ALL OF THE TIME so maybe that bothers them. The girls aren't intimidated by the roos either. In fact, when the roos are in their own chicken run, the girls stand outside mocking them! Okay, maybe they're just teasing them. Nonetheless, the girls are MUCH larger than the tiny roos so I'm pretty sure they aren't scared.

However, I've thought that maybe, just maybe, the roos are disrupting their egg laying cycle. I'm hoping not, though. I really don't want the roos, but I have a hard time culling them. They're just so pretty!

The debate in the house is that the girls are getting too old to keep up their production. I'm thinking no, but the man of the house thinks yes.

 

[aoxa]

I'm pretty sure I'm the MOST ignorant chicken "farmer" ever!  Every time I think I know all there is to know, something happens!  With that said, I don't think the girls are molting, but I could be wrong!  I haven't noticed anything out of the ordinary with their feathers, but I've read that a lot of chickens molt in the fall so who knows. 

We haven't noticed any parasites (and I've been scouring the coops..sort of!), but I know external parasites can be hard to spot. 

I'm not sure if this can cause any issues, but we do have 4 bantam roosters that are on the younger side.  They were hatched in April.  They are NOT in the actual coop with the girls, but they are in the same barn.  We turned an old cow barn into our chicken coop!  Crazy, I'm sure, but it works! 

Anyway, the girls are never in contact with the roos, but the boys do crow ALL OF THE TIME so maybe that bothers them.  The girls aren't intimidated by the roos either.  In fact, when the roos are in their own chicken run, the girls stand outside mocking them!  Okay, maybe they're just teasing them.  Nonetheless, the girls are MUCH larger than the tiny roos so I'm pretty sure they aren't scared. 

However, I've thought that maybe, just maybe, the roos are disrupting their egg laying cycle.  I'm hoping not, though.  I really don't want the roos, but I have a hard time culling them.  They're just so pretty!

The debate in the house is that the girls are getting too old to keep up their production.  I'm thinking no, but the man of the house thinks yes.

What breeds do you have for the girls?

I doubt the roosters are bothering them enough to stop laying. It may affect them if they were being over bred, but that is obviously not the issue.

To be safe, worm them. To be extra safe, louse them. It won't hurt. You would definitely notice feathers all around the coop/run if they were moulting.