Whole flock stopped laying

[chickenlover007]

One of my chickens went broody for a while and then the whole flock kinda just stopped laying. They were great layers before this, i have a flock of 5 hens and we were getting 4 eggs a day on average. I don't believe that the hen is broody anymore, but besides the occasional egg or 2 everyone just stopped. any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I'll bet your chickens hatched in 2019.

They are likely molting. Do you see a lot of feathers around?

 

[Gray Farms]

Are they molting?

 

[rascal66]

Typically as fall time rolls around, I notice a big drop in production as well. They usually begin their molt. At least mine do! And feathers are everywhere.
Also note, that hens need about 14 - 16 hours of light for best production, so if its getting dark earlier now, then maybe that could be it too. Just a couple ideas

 

[Gray Farms]

Typically as fall time rolls around, I notice a big drop in production as well. They usually begin their molt. At least mine do! And feathers are everywhere.
Also note, that hens need about 14 - 16 hours of light for best production, so if its getting dark earlier now, then maybe that could be it too. Just a couple ideas

Same here

 

[chickenlover007]

My chickens are about 5 years old, they have been looking slightly bedraggled lately and might be molting. I've just never had the entire flock just stop laying before though. Thanks for the feedback!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

My chickens are about 5 years old, they have been looking slightly bedraggled lately and might be molting. I've just never had the entire flock just stop laying before though. Thanks for the feedback!

I thought your chickens hatched last year because most first time chicken keepers who's chickens laid right through their first winter and all of a sudden stop laying are confused.
Your birds being 5 must have molted in recent autumns.
The older birds get, the fewer eggs they lay per year which is mostly dictated by them taking a longer and longer winter break. In Washington, you are losing about 3.5 minutes of light each day now. That is the signal to the pineal gland which changes the hormones to interrupt production.