Why won't my Hens lay any longer?

[new2chickens81]

I have 6 hens about 2 months ago I was having problems wt snakes and a rat going in and eating their eggs. Well, my husband & I got rid of the critters by laying golf balls and reinforcing their coop along wt making new nesting boxes but they still won't lay? I feed them chicken pellets n chicken scratch along wt plenty of vegetables & water, but still no eggs? Can some one please give me some advice on how I can get my ladies to lay again? I don't want to place them on the table just yet. Thanks

 

[ValerieJ]

How old are they? Have they been molting? Where are you? Do you have shorter winter days now? Do you add any light to extend the days?

 

[new2chickens81]

I've had them for 4yrs now, yes they have molted and have new feathers, we're located in Northern Mississippi, the weather is just now cooling off about 30°-40° in the mornings, haven't tried any extra lightings.

 

[Skippersnh]

Older hens will stop laying this time of year due to less hours of daylight

 

[new2chickens81]

THANKS!!

 

[ValerieJ]

I've had them for 4yrs now, yes they have molted and have new feathers, we're located in Northern Mississippi, the weather is just now cooling off about 30°-40° in the mornings, haven't tried any extra lightings.

They stop laying when they molt, and they mostly stop laying in the shorter days of winter, especially as they get older. Right now I just have two young hens laying. You can increase their day with artificial light in the mornings, usually this is done with a timer. I have one 4 year old hen, the others are 2 yrs and 1 yr. My 4 yr old doesn't lay anymore at all. Other people have hens that lay longer than that.

So, you can either wait til spring to see if they will lay again, or you can add some light in the mornings and see if that will make a difference. In prior years I got eggs all year round because I used lights, but this year I'm allowing them to have their natural cycle of rest, at least until the winter solstice when I may start adding light again.

 

[PirateGirl]

I agree that it's likely due to less daylight. They should start laying again come spring when they feel days have gotten long enough again. You can try supplemental lighting and see if it helps. There are lots of good threads on this if you search the site. Good luck. My ladies are on strike for the winter too!

 

[new2chickens81]

Just dont want to get rid of them, last winter they laid. It was lot fewer eggs in the winter than in the summer but never to the point were there were none at all. Really sad and frustrated by this

 

[ValerieJ]

Just dont want to get rid of them, last winter they laid. It was lot fewer eggs in the winter than in the summer but never to the point were there were none at all. Really sad and frustrated by this

I try to bring in a couple new hens every year so I will always have young layers. The young ones will lay in winter.

 

[new2chickens81]

I agree that it's likely due to less daylight. They should start laying again come spring when they feel days have gotten long enough again. You can try supplemental lighting and see if it helps. There are lots of good threads on this if you search the site. Good luck. My ladies are on strike for the winter too!

Thanks!! I will try the lights.