Girl Not Laying

[Gwenaveere]

I have read many of the prior posts relating to hens that have stopped laying... I live in Phoenix, AZ. I have 3 girls, all 2 1/2years old. My Ameracauna stopped laying last year as she went into her molt and never started laying again. My Buff Orpington and Bard Rock resumed laying probably in late January of this year but stopped laying 2-3 months ago. Before last years molt, I was getting 2-3 eggs per day.

Their feed consists of all organic, non GMO feed which includes, black oil sunflower seeds, oats, wheat, barley whole flax, white millet, Fertrells Nutri blend and oyster shell calcium. They also free range in my lush green backyard and also receive fresh cut herbs several days a week. As an added snack, I give them black soldier fly larva. They are completely protected and have plenty of fresh water. They also have plenty of poultry grit and I recently gave them diatomaceous earth as a natural dewormer, incase they had worms. Their coop is clean and I have seen no signs of egg shells anywhere in my yard or in the coop.

I'm just surprised they stopped laying eggs at such a young age. Any ideas? I feel like I've covered all the bases and am at a complete loss.

 

[picklestheduck]

I have read many of the prior posts relating to hens that have stopped laying... I live in Phoenix, AZ. I have 3 girls, all 2 1/2years old. My Ameracauna stopped laying last year as she went into her molt and never started laying again. My Buff Orpington and Bard Rock resumed laying probably in late January of this year but stopped laying 2-3 months ago. Before last years molt, I was getting 2-3 eggs per day.

Their feed consists of all organic, non GMO feed which includes, black oil sunflower seeds, oats, wheat, barley whole flax, white millet, Fertrells Nutri blend and oyster shell calcium. They also free range in my lush green backyard and also receive fresh cut herbs several days a week. As an added snack, I give them black soldier fly larva. They are completely protected and have plenty of fresh water. They also have plenty of poultry grit and I recently gave them diatomaceous earth as a natural dewormer, incase they had worms. Their coop is clean and I have seen no signs of egg shells anywhere in my yard or in the coop.

I'm just surprised they stopped laying eggs at such a young age. Any ideas? I feel like I've covered all the bases and am at a complete loss.

Hm that is a tough one. So you make your own feed? I am not a professional - but I’ve read a few cases like this, and some people have tried a normal store bought chicken feed and found results. The feed sold in stores has the perfect amount of nutrition and minerals and protein ratios that at least I know I personally wouldn’t be able to pull of at home myself. My birds stopped laying for a short time when I was buying the super common feed layena- I got like 2 eggs out of 40 birds. But I did some research and a lot of trial and error and found my personal flock will lay best /most eggs when I feed Nutrena Hearty Hen feed. My store doesn’t carry it- I have to have it specially ordered on a worksheet, and some may call me crazy for that but nutrition matters- and that’s what works best for me. Again- just information, I’m not going to tell you what to do but wanted to share my experience. Good luck!!

 

[aart]

They also free range

They may be laying in the range area.
Time for an exam:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

@U_Stormcrow could maybe do a feed assessment.

 

[DobieLover]

3 girls, all 2 1/2years old

My vote is that they are taking their normal winter break due to the shortening days. Light stimulates the hormones that stimulate egg production. When the days start getting longer, they will resume laying. At least the Plymouth Barred Rock and the BO will.
Are you sure the EE didn't find a different nest site in which to leave her eggs?

gave them diatomaceous earth as a natural dewormer, incase they had worms

This will do nothing to prevent or remove internal parasites. Absolutely nothing.
If you suspect a parasite load, collect a mixed fecal sample and bring it to your vet for a fecal float then treat if anything is found.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I see no red flags, looking at the ingredients, apart from a lot of fat. Would need a recipe to do a calculation, but its not the worst ingredient list I've seen (by a fair margin).

Nutritionally, there is very little you can do to make them stop laying w/o also having obvious health issues. Likewise, nutritionally there is very little you can do to improve laying, once you meet the minimums.

2 1/2 years old, fall, due for molt - I assume you aren't seeing a feather pillow fight in your pasture/run?