Where are my eggs??

[Buzymomibe]

I don't know what is going on. We have 9 hens that are about 2.5 yrs old and then we have 5 easter eggers that are 25 weeks old. So you would think I would be getting at least a few eggs a day. Well currently we are getting 3 eggs a day?!?!? WTH??? And so far we have not found any green/blue eggs so either the EE are not laying yet or they only lay brown like the other hens.

This time last year we were getting like 10 eggs a day. Even like 4 months ago we were getting like 10 eggs a day. Then about 3 months ago all of a sudden it dropped to 5 or 6 a day, and now we are down to 3. What is going on?? I had thought they were eatting them, and did even find a few shells, so we added more oyster shell and that seemed to stop that from happening, but like I said now they just don't seem to be laying.

Any ideas? Anything is can give them, add to their diet to up the eggs. DH is not happy that we have all of these chickens and I am having to buy eggs to feed our family.

Thanks in advance.

Theresa,
mama to 5 great kids, 16 chickens, 3 dogs, 18 cats, 2 Nubian goats, 3 pot belly pigs, and hoping to add more critters and kids.

 

[vfem]

Hi, and WELCOME!

Well, the EEs may not be ready. We've seen lots of posts about late layers. My first didn't lay until 30 weeks and it was a silkie.

Also, what has your weather been like? The heat here was bad the last couple of months and there was a huge slow down in laying and lots of issues with soft jelly like shells on what was laid.

I'm not sure on the older chickens, could they be slowing down due to age?! Someone else would have to answer that. I'm still pretty new at being a chicken mama.

 

[ChickenToes]

I agree, I think the older hens production is slowing down and dropping off.

 

[Buzymomibe]

Really age? I thought you got 4 or 5 years of good egg production before they slowed down.
Our weather has actually been cooler this year. Unlike last year when we were 110+ days on end.
They spend all day in the shade and their coop/run has a misting system as well as a big fan that turns on mid day to keep it cooler for them. Heck somedays I think their coop is cooler then my house with the ac,lol.
well thats for the replies.

Theresa

 

[11langenkamp_w]

I heard every year a chickens egg production goes down 20%.

 

[luvmychicknkids]

Wouldn't it also depend on the breeds? I believe I have heard that sex links are bred for early and massive egg laying and basically "burn out" early? What kind are the older hens?