7 hens, 3 eggs

[justvalerie]

I have 7 hens around 13 months old. (had 8, one died of impacted crop) they started laying in early winter of 2020 and i was getting 7 eggs a day. winter progressed and i would get between 4 or 5 a day. now summer is here and i am getting 3 eggs. My sister also has 7 hens from the same brood and she gets 7 eggs a day. the only difference is mine free range in the afternoon and hers are in the chicken run always. I feed them laying crumbles, oyster shell is available, fruit occasionally, scratch in small amounts and veggies. Could they be laying in the evening out in the bushes. if i leave them in the run, they don't lay anymore than 3! There is nothing to stress them out so i don't know if they are just duds!

 

[Sassy Hen]

Maybe the hens are laying in places other than their nesting boxes because they’re free range? If any of them are broody (maybe not because it’s July) then that might be why. If it’s hot maybe heat affects them that way? Sorry I’m not an expert on laying.

 

[aart]

I feed them laying crumbles, oyster shell is available, fruit occasionally, scratch in small amounts and veggies.

Is your sister feeding the same diet?
...and are they all the same breeds?

Could they be laying in the evening out in the bushes.

Maybe.

if i leave them in the run, they don't lay anymore than 3!

How long have you left them confined?

Might be time for an exam.....
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

Then maybe....
Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop/run for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.

 

[Fluffy Lambs]

My chickens peak laying period is in the spring. They start to taper off the later it gets in to the year. Maybe three lay an egg one day, three more lay another egg the next day. That's weird though if your sisters lay all them every day. I think its time for a butt check like aart said.