Why did the girls stop laying?

[SliceOHeaven]

I have 16 hens of typical breeds who have been laying consistently for a few months..12-14 eggs daily.
This last week they dropped to an average of 6 a day. and remain at 6-8. There's no place for them to "hide" eggs..
there's no evidence of egg eating.. I check often.. they get Layena and there are oyster shells available.. occasionally I put in a flock block (but don't leave it there) or a smattering of treats such as washed cottage cheese.. or alfalfa hay.. sometimes meal worms. No predators can get in where the boxes are..nor can they get in the yard which is all enclosed. (plenty of room for the hens) WHY did they slow down so much?
Thanks!

 

[cackleberrycam]

Do they get at least 15 hours of light a day?

 

[bmcl80]

I'm having a similar problem. My first egg after winter shut down came the end of February. I turned on my coop lights that day, on a timer morning and night to provide 16 hours of light per day. The others gradually began laying little by little. I have 10 hens, mixed breeds, 10 months to about 2 years old. All layed last fall. I've never had more than 6 eggs a day this spring. Usually it's 3-4 a day. They get fed a layer ration, oyster shell and clean water all free choice. I throw in a couple handfuls of green veggies and the occasional small handful of scratch (mainly sunflowers and corn). They are locked up in a dry, spacious coop at night and free range during the day. I have 3 large nest boxes that they use regularly. No incidence have occurred that I am aware of. They all seem happy. I did dust for mites about 3 weeks ago as a precaution when production wasn't increasing. I wormed with piperazine in the water at this time too. I'm wondering if I had a bad bag of feed, or something?? I've been giving them time to sort it out but we're coming into 6 weeks since they have mostly started laying and the production isn't there. I realize the 2 year old hens won't be as productive but I should get something.
They're not in a molt, all are in prime body condition and scratch and peck as normal. I have also noticed a couple hens, 1 in particular, a pullet from last year who dropped an egg almost everyday last fall who hasn't started laying at all. I find this curious. And the whole thing confusing.
I'm at a loss as to where to go at this point. If they were all old, I'd stew them and start over. But the young pullets should be doing better than they are.
Ideas? Thoughts? Please help. Thank you.

 

[SliceOHeaven]

Crackleberry... they come out of the coop at 6 am...(it's light) and go back in at dusk..8 pm. That's 14 hours. Why do they need at least 15?

 

[cackleberrycam]

Crackleberry... they come out of the coop at 6 am...(it's light) and go back in at dusk..8 pm. That's 14 hours. Why do they need at least 15?

Read this article: http://www.darkbrownegglayers.com/artificial-light-for-better-egg-production/