Why have my hens quit laying???

[pgmrdan]

Can they get so fat they quit laying?

They turned 2 years old in August. They began slowing down at laying last fall and have never recovered. They haven't laid an egg for 4 days now.

I had 9 hens that would lay 7 to 10 eggs a day last year. Then they slowed down to 4 or 5. Then 0 to 3. And now 0 for days. this has never happened.

What's up?

 

[southerndesert]

Quote:
Some good info that may help here... https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=423023

 

[pgmrdan]

Yep, now how do I narrow down all of those possibilities?

 

[Tiss]

I'd guess they are molting. This is the time of year for it. I have 5 birds molting right now and they don't lay when they are molting. My coop is absolutely covered in feathers! It's more obvious with some of my birds than others.

Edit to add: Be sure to look for a hidden nest too. They may be getting sneaky on you.

And

 

[pgmrdan]

Molting wouldn't explain why the laying has been slowing down for nearly a year now as I explained in my first post.