We are getting no eggs - not sure why?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Caitlin Dorward on March 26, 2013 at 3:02pm

How old are they? We have two that are probably almost 4 by now and they don't lay anymore. We got 3 new pullets last summer and thought they would start laying by fall but we didn't get the first egg out of them until about mid-February (actually I'm pretty sure only two of them are laying, the third is an Ameraucana and we haven't had a single blue egg yet).

I'd love to hear from anyone else on this too since I don't really have an answer!

Permalink Reply by Laura Arp on March 26, 2013 at 3:35pm

They are only 2.5 years. They should be in their peak production years?

Permalink Reply by stephanie st loe on March 27, 2013 at 4:54pm

Hi Laura,

There's really good info on the BYC site. If they're only 2.5 yrs old they should start up laying again by now as the days have gotten longer? Mine laid all winter as I put in a light that switches on at 5:30 am. The only reasons I know of for not laying are: not enough hours of daylight, not enough protien, or not enough calcium, or sick chickens. You could try feeding just layer mash-no kitchen scraps unless they are super high in calcium or protein. Mine get just layer mash with sardines and dandelion greens/grass/salad scraps for treats. They really like their greens. They are laying 5-6 eggs a week each, but they are 9-10 months old. Anyway I'd try feeding them exactly what they neeed to lay eggs-the mash + oyster shell calcium with nothing else that way you can rule out protein and calcium as problems.

Permalink Reply by Vicky on March 28, 2013 at 10:47am

mine are 'older' as well, and only 2 of 3 started laying again in mid-feb. How are their poops? I noticed that mine that isn't laying has diarrhea, which I'm guessing is the cause, but no luck yet remedying it. I've also just switched from mash to pellets so wonder if that has something to do with it. good luck - please let us know how it goes!

 

Permalink Reply by Laura Arp on June 9, 2013 at 11:46pm

Hi Just an update on our girls. Shortly after I wrote last time the girls actually did start laying (in early April). We stopped the kitchen scraps and that seems to have helped. However we still get only about half the amount of eggs we did last year. And I am not sure they are all laying - the max we have seen is two eggs a day so it could be just two of the four. I lifted one of the chickens up the other day and I think she has lost weight - not sure why. They all look fine though. Interestingly they are not that into layer mash - I wonder if I could feed them something else. I am somewhat tempted to get one or two good new layers ...
Laura

Permalink Reply by Kristi Tatebe on March 20, 2014 at 3:49pm

HI all,

Just wanted to bump this discussion and see if any of you are still having laying problems.... my 3 hens haven't laid for probably a year - can't remember the last time we got an egg. I think they are probably between 3 and 4 years old. A while back, one seemed sick with diarrhea (sleepy and molting badly), then seemed to recover completely after a molt, except still has loose poops. The other two seem fine - all 3 look healthy and happy. They just eat layer pellets with minimal scraps and free range about 5x a week for a few hours each day.

Any thoughts? Are they just too old now?