Why Aren't My Chickens Laying? Here Are Your Answers!

[Cass]

Sooo I have 3 different breeding cages with dif breeds including Sumatras and dif varieties of D'uccles. They have all virtually stopped laying eggs for almost 2 weeks now. They are only a year and a half old. I'm not a beginner so I know the basics about stress and a changing environment and weather/temp changes, etc but I am positive all of those factors are stabile. The ONE change I made, no laughing here, was the type of nesting box shavings. I went from a courser type pine shavings to the softer more ground up stuff. Could that possibly change there laying habits?

That's my exact problem. Minus the change in bedding material. After much thinking (and asking everyone I knew, LOL) I was told that this is the time of year that chickens of that age molt. THEN I saw the new feathers growing. So wait a few weeks and they will start laying again. Mine just started giving me 8 eggs a day, up from 2-3 the past 3 weeks.

 

[dsfrango]

That's my exact problem.  Minus the change in bedding material.   After much thinking (and asking everyone I knew, LOL) I was told that this is the time of year that chickens of that age molt.  THEN I saw the new feathers growing.  So wait a few weeks and they will start laying again.  Mine just started giving me 8 eggs a day, up from 2-3 the past 3 weeks.

Ohhh! That makes some sense thank you very much, I'll stop worrying now that something was wrong with my birds haha

 

[aaltamare]

I'm feeling like mine will probably wait unitl next to never to lay as well. I was told they were January chicks and still....no eggs and signs of being ready. Only one of mine has any trace of a waddle. The other two have little feathers as ear muffs and beards. No waddles at all. Maybe this is their breed? The woman/farmer I bought them from wasn't sure of tbe breed because they were mixed or some sort of mistake. Also, I've noticed that they can hqve very brigjt red faces then in a short while turn light pinkish to white. They get mixed nuts for a treat, daily. Also some veggies and always have access to layer. I was told not to give shell until they lay. I'm not sure if this is totally true.

 

[gigelus2k13]

In the worst case, these non-laying pullets should go to the pot, while you're rebooting your flock with known, dependable layers.

 

[Cass]

I'm feeling like mine will probably wait unitl next to never to lay as well. I was told they were January chicks and still....no eggs and signs of being ready. Only one of mine has any trace of a waddle. The other two have little feathers as ear muffs and beards. No waddles at all. Maybe this is their breed? The woman/farmer I bought them from wasn't sure of tbe breed because they were mixed or some sort of mistake. Also, I've noticed that they can hqve very brigjt red faces then in a short while turn light pinkish to white. They get mixed nuts for a treat, daily. Also some veggies and always have access to layer. I was told not to give shell until they lay. I'm not sure if this is totally true.

Fresh water daily. Lay off the treats, especially the nuts, due to the salt. Too much salt is bad for chickens. Chickens are like children and will fill their crop with treats instead of the layer feed that they should be eating. Ear muffs and beards might be some cross with Ameruacana, who are known for their late start of laying.

Do your birds free range? Are they getting enough sunlight in the area they are kept in? Have you gone on an Easter egg hunt around the property they range on? Just because you want them to lay in a nest box doesn't mean they are going to do so.

IF they are getting 12- 14 hours of sunlight daily, only eating layer feed and getting fresh water daily and still aren't laying then it is time for the stew pot and restock your flock with known laying hens. Do you ever hear the "egg song" during the day?

Edited to add: IF these were/are January chicks they could be just 6 months old...that is old for a first egg but 9 months old isn't unheard of. Hold out for that egg. It will be sweet when it happens.

 

[jeannettea]

I need some advice. About three weeks ago, the 28 new chickens I brought home were laying (1 - 2 eggs/day, one day 5 eggs!!!) when I had them quarantined in part of the coop and a covered long run away from my small flock (14) of hens. After six days, I opened up the uncovered run (so then they had about 74'x16' space plus the enclosed coop), and they loved that. I still was getting 1-2 eggs/day total from them. After almost a full two weeks, I threw open the barn doors and let them all free range with my other flock. There was a little hen pecking, but nothing serious (no blood was drawn), and they all seem to get along fine now.

The problem is, I am getting no eggs!!! PERIOD. No eggs are being laid by the old flock (which is why I got the new flock), but now the new flock isn't laying anymore either! DH thinks they are laying their eggs in the woods, I think they're going under the porch steps where I can't reach/see (they never venture far from the little barn), but where ever they are laying, it's not in their nest boxes. I even took six wooden eggs I had (as deco in a basket) and stuck those in the two spots where they HAD been laying the whole first two weeks. NOTHING.

DH says to keep them all in the run from now on, but if I do, they aren't going to get any fresh grass and bugs (not like when free ranging), and that just doesn't seem like good practice to me. PLUS if I do that, I'm looking at giving them a minimum of 7 lbs of feed per day (by just locking up half the flock)! That's a 50 lb bag of feed a WEEK!!! Now if they laid like crazy, I'd be fine with the cost, but I just don't think they are all going to lay, and I'm going to wind up paying $15 for maybe a dozen - two dozen eggs a week.

Plus - I have nine new ones that refuse to go back in the coop period. They roost in the trees and then fly down every morning. I know two of those are the ones that just started laying!!!

What's your take and your advice on this??? Should I lock them back up and see if I start finding eggs again? If I do.......then what? I really hate the idea of keeping any of them confined to that run 24/7 (even if it is a nice large sunny run). Could I keep them confined until about 4:30 everyday and then let them out of the run to scratch in the grass/woods?

 

[jeannettea]

I need some advice. About three weeks ago, the 28 new chickens I brought home were laying (1 - 2 eggs/day, one day 5 eggs!!!) when I had them quarantined in part of the coop and a covered long run away from my small flock (14) of hens. After six days, I opened up the uncovered run (so then they had about 74'x16' space plus the enclosed coop), and they loved that. I still was getting 1-2 eggs/day total from them. After almost a full two weeks, I threw open the barn doors and let them all free range with my other flock. There was a little hen pecking, but nothing serious (no blood was drawn), and they all seem to get along fine now.

The problem is, I am getting no eggs!!! PERIOD. No eggs are being laid by the old flock (which is why I got the new flock), but now the new flock isn't laying anymore either! DH thinks they are laying their eggs in the woods, I think they're going under the porch steps where I can't reach/see (they never venture far from the little barn), but where ever they are laying, it's not in their nest boxes. I even took six wooden eggs I had (as deco in a basket) and stuck those in the two spots where they HAD been laying the whole first two weeks. NOTHING.

DH says to keep them all in the run from now on, but if I do, they aren't going to get any fresh grass and bugs (not like when free ranging), and that just doesn't seem like good practice to me. PLUS if I do that, I'm looking at giving them a minimum of 7 lbs of feed per day (by just locking up half the flock)! That's a 50 lb bag of feed a WEEK!!! Now if they laid like crazy, I'd be fine with the cost, but I just don't think they are all going to lay, and I'm going to wind up paying $15 for maybe a dozen - two dozen eggs a week.

Plus - I have nine new ones that refuse to go back in the coop period. They roost in the trees and then fly down every morning. I know two of those are the ones that just started laying!!!

What's your take and your advice on this??? Should I lock them back up and see if I start finding eggs again? If I do.......then what? I really hate the idea of keeping any of them confined to that run 24/7 (even if it is a nice large sunny run). Could I keep them confined until about 4:30 everyday and then let them out of the run to scratch in the grass/woods?

 

[Cass]

I need some advice. About three weeks ago, the 28 new chickens I brought home were laying (1 - 2 eggs/day, one day 5 eggs!!!) when I had them quarantined in part of the coop and a covered long run away from my small flock (14) of hens. After six days, I opened up the uncovered run (so then they had about 74'x16' space plus the enclosed coop), and they loved that. I still was getting 1-2 eggs/day total from them. After almost a full two weeks, I threw open the barn doors and let them all free range with my other flock. There was a little hen pecking, but nothing serious (no blood was drawn), and they all seem to get along fine now.

The problem is, I am getting no eggs!!! PERIOD. No eggs are being laid by the old flock (which is why I got the new flock), but now the new flock isn't laying anymore either! DH thinks they are laying their eggs in the woods, I think they're going under the porch steps where I can't reach/see (they never venture far from the little barn), but where ever they are laying, it's not in their nest boxes. I even took six wooden eggs I had (as deco in a basket) and stuck those in the two spots where they HAD been laying the whole first two weeks. NOTHING.

DH says to keep them all in the run from now on, but if I do, they aren't going to get any fresh grass and bugs (not like when free ranging), and that just doesn't seem like good practice to me. PLUS if I do that, I'm looking at giving them a minimum of 7 lbs of feed per day (by just locking up half the flock)! That's a 50 lb bag of feed a WEEK!!! Now if they laid like crazy, I'd be fine with the cost, but I just don't think they are all going to lay, and I'm going to wind up paying $15 for maybe a dozen - two dozen eggs a week.

Plus - I have nine new ones that refuse to go back in the coop period. They roost in the trees and then fly down every morning. I know two of those are the ones that just started laying!!!

What's your take and your advice on this??? Should I lock them back up and see if I start finding eggs again? If I do.......then what? I really hate the idea of keeping any of them confined to that run 24/7 (even if it is a nice large sunny run). Could I keep them confined until about 4:30 everyday and then let them out of the run to scratch in the grass/woods?

Go with plan B. Leave them in the coop/run until they lay and then let them out to free range. If you find eggs in the coop, you'll know they were laying where you couldn't find the eggs.

I had to confine my birds for over a week to reteach them to lay in the coop this past spring when I started letting them out early in the day. Doesn't always work out, totally free ranging, regardless of how you feel about confinement. Now I have one laying in the shed, LOL. I can live with that tho, because I can find that egg.

 

[aaltamare]

Thanks so much for your response, sorry it took me so long to reply.

They have fresh water inside and outside of coop daily.There is layer crumble inside and out that's always available and full to them as well. I do give them some scraps every day or every other day. Fresh fruit and veggies mostly.They definitely like to eat their layer the most even though they are given other things. As far as the treats, they only get a handful daily between the three of them. Do you think that's too much?

I have attached a photo of their outside area and coop. As far as the free ranging they have a bit of ground to peck at and sun themselves. This area is totally fenced in to keep predators away.

Recently I added a golf ball to each of the nesting boxes. I have read on this site that that may encourage them to lay, no luck yet! To answer your question about the morning song, yes. I feel like they do a great deal of squawking in the am, more so than any other time of the day. They always get my hopes up as I'm walking down to let them out because of all the noise!

I was wondering if you had any idea why my girls faces will turn bright red then pale pink within minutes?

I noticed you are from NY. Since we have very similar climates I was wondering if you could give some feedback on winterizing my coop. Should I cover windows, or leave open for ventilation? How much insulation do I actually need. I've seen so many different opinions. The dimensions are about 1'x 2', the side window is longer. There is a main door that stays open during the day it's closed only for this photo.

I would like to get a few more known layers but I cant seem to get my hands on just 2/3. Headed to the auction today, I've never been so wish me luck.

Thanks for all your help, sorry I have so many questions. I grew up on a small farm and we did have chickens but my grandfather was a little old school. I don't remember him having any heat in the coop.


outside run area

ventilation
to give you an idea of the actual size of the coop

 

[Cass]

Thanks so much for your response, sorry it took me so long to reply.

They have fresh water inside and outside of coop daily.There is layer crumble inside and out that's always available and full to them as well. I do give them some scraps every day or every other day. Fresh fruit and veggies mostly.They definitely like to eat their layer the most even though they are given other things. As far as the treats, they only get a handful daily between the three of them. Do you think that's too much?

I have attached a photo of their outside area and coop. As far as the free ranging they have a bit of ground to peck at and sun themselves. This area is totally fenced in to keep predators away.

Recently I added a golf ball to each of the nesting boxes. I have read on this site that that may encourage them to lay, no luck yet! To answer your question about the morning song, yes. I feel like they do a great deal of squawking in the am, more so than any other time of the day. They always get my hopes up as I'm walking down to let them out because of all the noise!

I was wondering if you had any idea why my girls faces will turn bright red then pale pink within minutes?

I noticed you are from NY. Since we have very similar climates I was wondering if you could give some feedback on winterizing my coop. Should I cover windows, or leave open for ventilation? How much insulation do I actually need. I've seen so many different opinions. The dimensions are about 1'x 2', the side window is longer. There is a main door that stays open during the day it's closed only for this photo.

I would like to get a few more known layers but I cant seem to get my hands on just 2/3. Headed to the auction today, I've never been so wish me luck.

Thanks for all your help, sorry I have so many questions. I grew up on a small farm and we did have chickens but my grandfather was a little old school. I don't remember him having any heat in the coop.


outside run area

ventilation
to give you an idea of the actual size of the coop

Do NOT heat the coop. If you feel you must, cover the windows during the night time hours, but no heat. If you heat and then lose power your birds will not be acclimated to the lower temperatures. My birds go outside in the SNOW. They prefer a path to walk on, but the do like to go outside in the cold....remember they are wearing a down coat. Some of my friend's birds never come inside. They live in the trees all winter. So NO HEAT. Far more birds die from over heating than ever die from cold.

The red to pink to red thing? No clue. How old are these hens again? If they are over 18 weeks they could be having hormone fluctuations indicating they are getting ready to lay. Remember some breeds don't lay until well over 20 weeks. 18 weeks is just an average.

One handful of treats is too much for 3 hens. Try 2 weeks with NO treats and see if they start laying. Some folks say that fruit causes chickens to stop laying. Some say that is hogwash. I have found that 3 of my ladies stop laying when they have apples to eat and the rest of the flock isn't affected by apples, so it seems to be breed dependent, if fruit affects laying. My neighbor's birds can eat all the apples they want, but won't lay for 2 days after eating oranges. Go figure. So stop all treats and get them laying. Then add one kind of treat at a time until you determine which they can't eat and still lay.

Good luck with the new birds.