Why have my 2yr old hens stopped laying?

[Chrugger]

Can someone help me figure out why only my 2 year old hens stopped laying? I have 3 hens (2 years old) that completely stopped laying about 4-6 months ago. I also have 9 younger hens (8 months) that are all laying just fine. 12 hens total, none acting weird/lethargic, healthy looking comb, eating normal, have easy access to clean water and food. They stay in a large coop (converted shed), 6 nesting boxes, and have a large run (1000is sqft) and free range outside their run daily when we're out with them. They spend the vast majority (90%) of their time in their run and I regularly check for other nesting areas. They were moved into the shed from a smaller coop about 9 months ago, which they laid in for a little while without much coercion. We did lose a hen from that original 2 year old group earlier this year to an unknown illness, and I feel like that could have been when they all stopped? Again, the younger hens are laying just fine and all 12 seem very healthy and happy.

Thanks for the help!

 

[StinkyAcres]

They could be laying when they are free ranging and have a secret nest somewhere. What food do you feed them?

 

[JedJackson]

Since the younger ones are laying fine, the older ones are probably on a break. Hens lay less the older they get. Yours will probably start up again in Spring when the daylight hours grow longer. You could try supplemental lighting in the coop to see if that helps.

 

[StinkyAcres]

4-6 months without laying at all is not normal. 2-year-old hens will take a break during molt, but usually lay a few eggs afterwards, even when the days are short.

 

[SilverBirds]

What breeds do you have?

 

[JedJackson]

4-6 months without laying at all is not normal.

If the pullets weren't laying I would say you are right, but since they are I think that rules out diet and stress for all of them.

 

[SilverBirds]

How many eggs a day are you getting? If you are expecting 12 eggs a day, that rarely happens. Chickens are not machines and don't lay eggs every day of every week. They take breaks. Most chickens will produce 4-5 eggs a week if it's prime laying time. Less in the winter months and once the hens start to age. From 12 hens, I would expect to get 5-10 eggs a day. If all the hens are of the same breed or lay similar colored eggs, you're probably mistaking the older hens eggs for the younger hens.

 

[Chrugger]

They could be laying when they are free ranging and have a secret nest somewhere. What food do you feed them?

It's possible, but they often go a number of days only in their coop/run without being let out, so I doubt it. We feed them layer pellets (16% kind from Tractor Supply or Southern States) and a handful of scratch grain and/or mealworms every day. We also leave out a container of crushed oyster shell in their run.

 

[artbykarenehaley]

Can someone help me figure out why only my 2 year old hens stopped laying? I have 3 hens (2 years old) that completely stopped laying about 4-6 months ago. I also have 9 younger hens (8 months) that are all laying just fine. 12 hens total, none acting weird/lethargic, healthy looking comb, eating normal, have easy access to clean water and food. They stay in a large coop (converted shed), 6 nesting boxes, and have a large run (1000is sqft) and free range outside their run daily when we're out with them. They spend the vast majority (90%) of their time in their run and I regularly check for other nesting areas. They were moved into the shed from a smaller coop about 9 months ago, which they laid in for a little while without much coercion. We did lose a hen from that original 2 year old group earlier this year to an unknown illness, and I feel like that could have been when they all stopped? Again, the younger hens are laying just fine and all 12 seem very healthy and happy.

Thanks for the help!

How far north are you? I'm on the 45th parallel. Mine slowed down at the end of August, currently only my two under 1 year are laying. The rest are 3 1/2.

 

[Chrugger]

How many eggs a day are you getting? If you are expecting 12 eggs a day, that rarely happens. Chickens are not machines and don't lay eggs every day of every week. They take breaks. Most chickens will produce 4-5 eggs a week if it's prime laying time. Less in the winter months and once the hens start to age. From 12 hens, I would expect to get 5-10 eggs a day. If all the hens are of the same breed or lay similar colored eggs, you're probably mistaking the older hens eggs for the younger hens.

Right, not expecting all to lay every day, but since we’ve had the older ones for over 2 years now, we definitely know which eggs are theirs and they definitely haven’t laid any in months. We’re averaging 5 per day, but they’re only from the younger hens.