Where'd all my eggs go???

[lvchicken]

Even in the winter my 32 hens were pumping out a good 28 eggs a day. Now they've dropped to only 18 a day!!! What happened??

 

[Saltysteele]

are they outside now, versus being cooped up during the winter? if so, could be the change from eating only the feed you gave them versus eating a bit of your food and ranging for the rest

 

[Ridgerunner]

Not enough information available to be anywhere near sure, but I'll try a few possible causes. How long has this been going on, a few days or a few weeks?

They may be molting. Have you been providing extra light then changed that? Maybe they have been stressed by something? Have they run out of water for a time? Many different things can cause a molt and sometimes it is not your entire flock that molts.

Are they hiding a nest on you? This is a real common cause for a drop in egg production. A real common cause.

Is something getting the eggs? It could be the chickens themselves. They usually leave evidence but not always. There are many predators that could be eating eggs. Some leave evidence and some don't. With it being a fairly regular amount each day, my list of suspicious characters drops a bit. A snake usually does not eat that many and usually does not show up every day. Rats, possums, coons, foxes, skunks, and many others are usually not that regular either, especially if you do not leave the eggs in the coop overnight, but any of these could show up in daylight too.

If it is something regularly getting the eggs, my first thoughts would be your pet dog or a human, but it is hard to really nail it down.

Have you changed the pecking order, either by adding or taking away any chickens? Maybe moved them to new quarters? Changed what they eat? Has the weather changed dramatically? Some flocks cut back laying in hot or cold weather. Any of these can cause a drop in egg production. Chickens usually don't like change.

Sometimes just seeing a predator close by can cause them to stress and quit laying for a while.

Do they need worming? Have you checked them for mites or lice?

A drop in egg production is not all that unusual. Sometimes they just seem to take a few days off. But a regular drop like this over a period of time does need investigating. Good luck! This is not always an easy one to solve.

 

[lvchicken]

Yes, they are molting. But is it normal for chickens to molt in late spring? Something might be getting the eggs. I am unsure of that though. I changed the pecking order just for a little while. I switched it back, so hopefully that might make a difference. They are outside in their enclosed run. We have construction going on, so that might be stressing them out.

My hens are few weeks from being a year old. Thank you all!!!!

 

[lvchicken]

I found that my chickens are laying bigger eggs, but not as many eggs! Weird!!!

 

[BANTAMWYANDOTTE]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=501018