Where's the beef?! I mean EGGS! ;)

[gcbsmommy]

I need some advice from experienced "chicken wranglers". We have 26 year old, non-moulting laying hens that share a large coop with 8 nesting boxes (was recommended to have one box for every 4 chickens so this should be more than ample). They free-range during the day after getting a morning ration of laying hen crumbles and are "supposed" to stay in the back acre which is separated from the rest of our property by a 5 foot chain link fence, but "of course" many rascals have figured out how to get over or under that obstacle. The point is that we are not getting nearly as many eggs as we would expect this time of year. One day last week, there were 4! But the normal range is 8 to 10 with an occasional dozen. I do know some of them have made hidden nests in the front of the property, but once we find them and remove the eggs, they no longer lay there - and there certainly haven't been enough to account for the overall low daily egg count. Any thoughts about how to get the chickens to lay where they are supposed to and/or to lay more? THANKS!

 

[milola]

I have no advise, but I had to say at first I thought you had a 26 year old hen, then I thought no... it must be two 6 year old hens. I have now realized you have twenty-six one year old hens which is why I have no clue about the egg production. Had it been a 26 yr. old hen I would have told you she was probably past her prime.

 

[jeepguy982001]

not sure hopefully someone with more knowledge will chime in. Maybe keeping them in their pen until most have laid then let them out to free range.

 

[PrairieChickens]

Some possible reasons for the absence of eggs:
-They're hiding eggs from you that you haven't found yet. I once found a huge stash of eggs inside of the wall of a temporary coop I'd set up for a naughty rooster. Though he'd never escaped, the hens found a way in, and were laying eggs there.
-Vermin like mice, rats, or even skunks are eating the eggs before you can find them.
-The hens themselves may be guilty of eating the eggs, though you would probably have noticed some yolk-stained faces by now if that were the case.
-An underlying health problem like illness, worms, or another parasite may be affecting your hen's egg laying. After treating my flock for worms last year, our egg production doubled.

If it were me, with 26 one-year-old hens, I'd be expecting 20+ eggs a day consistently, so something is definitely amiss.

 

[gcbsmommy]

Some possible reasons for the absence of eggs:
-They're hiding eggs from you that you haven't found yet. I once found a huge stash of eggs inside of the wall of a temporary coop I'd set up for a naughty rooster. Though he'd never escaped, the hens found a way in, and were laying eggs there.
-Vermin like mice, rats, or even skunks are eating the eggs before you can find them.
-The hens themselves may be guilty of eating the eggs, though you would probably have noticed some yolk-stained faces by now if that were the case.
-An underlying health problem like illness, worms, or another parasite may be affecting your hen's egg laying. After treating my flock for worms last year, our egg production doubled.

If it were me, with 26 one-year-old hens, I'd be expecting 20+ eggs a day consistently, so something is definitely amiss.

Thanks.

Some are definitely hiding their eggs... there are lots of places for them to hide them, unfortunately.

We collect eggs every afternoon and check the boxes in the morning and evening, too. I highly doubt the vermin idea, though I did think about it.

I have found no broken shells...

They act very healthy and happy. I don't see any evidence of worms in their stool...

Any other ideas or suggestions to get them to lay in their nesting boxes would be greatly appreciated!

 

[gcbsmommy]

I have no advise, but I had to say at first I thought you had a 26 year old hen, then I thought no... it must be two 6 year old hens. I have now realized you have twenty-six one year old hens which is why I have no clue about the egg production. Had it been a 26 yr. old hen I would have told you she was probably past her prime.

a 26 year old hen would be quite something!

 

[gcbsmommy]

not sure hopefully someone with more knowledge will chime in. Maybe keeping them in their pen until most have laid then let them out to free range.

Thanks, but I think they would hate that. Most eggs seem to be laid in the afternoon and I hate to think of them missing most of the sunshine each day. But maybe that is what needs to be done

 

[PrairieChickens]

Quote: That's all I can recommend. The upside is, you should only have to do it for a little while until they get into the habit of laying in the nests.