Ohio valley chickens not laying eggs.

[reed]

My chickens stopped laying eggs three weeks ago. I have talked to seven other people in the area whose chickens stopped laying eggs. I don't do face book but the other people say there are lots of reports that other flocks in the area have stopped laying eggs. Less eggs as weather turns cooler and days shorter isn't unusual. I generally don't have enough to sell this time of year but always had enough for us and since everyone I know has the same issue if I want eggs the store is the only source. People with flocks of forty or more don't have eggs. Very, very odd. 

[richardw]

I know ours completely stop laying going into winter, so i wouldn't have thought that was not unusual

[prairiegardens]

Wouldn't it be unusual for ALL of them to stop at the same time? Lots of people around have flocks that lay through the Sask winter even without heated coops, so you'd think at least some would be persevering in spite of the weather change.. might just be circumstantial but unless the chickens all one breed, it seems a bit odd. Anyone have any theories?

[walt]

Its normal for egg product to droop during molt, both spring and fall.  But looking at them should tell you if that is the problem.  And if you've had chickens a few years, you'd expect that and not be asking about it.  So I doubt this is your problem.

[reed]

My chickens are all mixed up, not a pure bred in the bunch. It is completely normal for egg production to drop off this time of year and even more as we go more into winter but I never had an extended time with no eggs at all. Even in darkest cold of winter when you might go two or three days in a row without eggs we still got enough for us to use. I still didn't think too much of it till I found out other people are having the same issue. Not less eggs but no eggs, one lady has almost 60 chickens and not a single egg.

I'm stumped and little worried, I even told them the tale of what happens to chickens that don't lay eggs, no effect.

[diane]

Is something sneaking in and eating them?

[andyb]

Do most people in your area get feed from the same place?

[steev]

Sounds like the sorority cycle synchronicity on a larger scale; have any unusually dominant hens come into the area?

Actually, the sorority thing is an urban myth, but you're in a rural area, no?

[prairiegardens]

The feed being perhaps to blame sounds a reasonable idea. seems A lot of these companies change their formula according to what's cheap and available, if the protein level is too low you will be unlikely to get eggs. Maybe try mixing in some cat food and see if that helps?

[steev]

That's a problem in many things; I think it was herbicide-dosed municipal waste that trashed all my Solanums and peppers this past year; we face a growing threat of contamination in our feed-stocks, as industrial and residential input goes into the availability of compost; we can't assume that those who put stuff in their "green" cans have any more sense than those growing commercial crops. possibly less, since they don't expect to live from the results.

[reed]

I'm sure it is none of the usual suspects. If it's feed then it can't be all from the same source cause the reports are from too far apart. I'll keep talking to other folks to see if it gets any better but don't know there is anything I can do about it wait and see.

I wish it was something like a possum, I could just go out and shoot it.

[gilbert]

That's a problem in many things; I think it was herbicide-dosed municipal waste that trashed all my Solanums and peppers this past year; we face a growing threat of contamination in our feed-stocks, as industrial and residential input goes into the availability of compost; we can't assume that those who put stuff in their "green" cans have any more sense than those growing commercial crops. possibly less, since they don't expect to live from the results.

I've decided that I won't import any more organic matter of any sort ( manure, straw, leaves, etc.) to my plots, with the possible exception of wood chips. Even they are rather suspect, though, now that the ash trees are being sprayed and injected for the borers, but at least they won't contain herbicide. They do contain many other strange things sometimes! 

So I'm going to make a real effort to grow carbon onsite with grains and cover crops. That will be better anyway, because all my soils have way too much potassium, and bringing in organic matter is a good way to import a lot of potassium. 

[paquebot]

Sounds like another case of Internet hysteria. Must be a lot of first-time chicken farmers with meat birds. Unless one has only Leghorns and artificial lighting, they're lucky if they get 10 eggs from 100 hens. It's a natural thing. When the days grow shorter, it triggers the chickens to moult their old feathers. Their metabolism switches to growing feathers first and eggs second.

Martin

[reed]

Well crap, should of known better that to let em have their own smart phone.

[philagardener]

Time to turn off the wifi in the coop!