DaisyDay Posted November 12, 2016 Share Posted November 12, 2016 We have 5 hens and they seem to have stopped laying. We're getting maybe 1 egg a day in their roosting area. We're using the feed that's especially for layers. This started before the weather turned cooler so I don't think it's related to that. A few months ago, we were getting so many eggs we couldn't give them away fast enough. The hens are all about 1 year old. Any suggestions on what might be the problem or what we might do differently? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
athomeontheprairie Posted November 12, 2016 Share Posted November 12, 2016 Ours do this every fall. Between the cooler weather, lack of daylight hours, and molting they take a break. Frustrating, but normal (at least in our experience). 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrittanyM Posted November 12, 2016 Share Posted November 12, 2016 Is it possible they're going to molt? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaisyDay Posted November 12, 2016 Author Share Posted November 12, 2016 Is it possible they're going to molt? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk I guess that's possible. We are seeing a lot of feathers around here. I heard they slowed down their laying when they moult but I didn't think it would be THIS slow! :crying: We're new chicken owners so I guess pretty clueless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MSNative Posted November 12, 2016 Share Posted November 12, 2016 Is something else eating the eggs? We had a similar problem and it turned out a snake was eating the eggs. It may be a decrease in light as well. You could try adding a light for a few extra hours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaisyDay Posted November 12, 2016 Author Share Posted November 12, 2016 Ours do this every fall. Between the cooler weather, lack of daylight hours, and molting they take a break. Frustrating, but normal (at least in our experience). I hope this is the case. Lots of change going on in their little routine all at once. Then we have the occasional dog chasing them to add to their stress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaisyDay Posted November 12, 2016 Author Share Posted November 12, 2016 Is something else eating the eggs? We had a similar problem and it turned out a snake was eating the eggs. It may be a decrease in light as well. You could try adding a light for a few extra hours. The snake thing occurred to me but OMG, I hope not! I'd pass out cold on the ground if I saw a snake in there. :svengo: Let's hope it's a light issue. I could run a light out there for a couple of hours a night and see if that helps. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nd293 Posted November 12, 2016 Share Posted November 12, 2016 Ours never started up again. Then they got sick (at various times) and died. We did not have success with chickens... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ausmumof3 Posted November 12, 2016 Share Posted November 12, 2016 Ours do this in Autumn. My sister swears by getting a couple of extra point of lay chooks each winter as they are the only ones that lay well through the winter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlsdMama Posted November 12, 2016 Share Posted November 12, 2016 Ours went through a molt right at about one year and then started laying heavy again. We like to alternate when we get hens (get chicks at the "normal" time in the spring, but also consider getting more in September) -this keeps you in a steady supply. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamakelly Posted November 12, 2016 Share Posted November 12, 2016 Mine stopped laying about 3 weeks ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrittanyM Posted November 13, 2016 Share Posted November 13, 2016 At about a year is normal for molting so if they're the same age then that would probably play into it. Mine completely quit laying if they molt in the winter/fall for a month or so. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairfarmhand Posted November 13, 2016 Share Posted November 13, 2016 It's the short days. Hens lay best with 12-14 hours daylight. Rig up a bulb on a timer and it will help. However, they're also probably molting. It's an annual thing for chickens! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 13, 2016 Share Posted November 13, 2016 Ours have done the same thing. We even had a week with no eggs. Now we are back to about five a day (instead of 20). They're molting as well. I think it was the change in daylight hours as it's definitely not cold here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaisyDay Posted November 13, 2016 Author Share Posted November 13, 2016 All good information. Thank you. It appears to be a combination of molting and the shorter days of fall. We'll wait it out and see how it goes. We're gonna have to tell our friends and family members to buy their eggs at the store for a while. (gasp) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaisyDay Posted February 3, 2017 Author Share Posted February 3, 2017 Updating! Now that it's early February, the days are getting a little longer and we're seeing at least 3, sometimes 4, eggs a day. So that's an improvement. I will also add that we're down to 4 hens now, instead of 5. Something killed one of our girls and we still have no idea what it was. It was broad daylight in late afternoon, when it happened. We all felt so bad. Since then, we've been very vigilant about getting them up close to the house as the sun starts setting each day. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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