Hens Not Laying For Almost 2 Weeks?? Why??

[hannahsocal]

Hello! Just thought I’d post here in case anyone has any thoughts or suggestions on what to do. So I have 4 laying hens (all are about 8 months old and have laid eggs before). In with them I have 3 roos that they grew up with and are friendly with (the roos mate all the hens and I’ve had zero fights so far, they get along well). I recently added 2x 18-week old pullets in with the flock, and there were some pecking order squabbles at first but now they seem fine. I added the pullets with the laying hens because they will be laying any day now too. It’s been about 2 weeks now since I’ve added the other 2 girls. They’ve seen them before though for the past month and interacted before I put them together in the same coop, so they shouldn’t be THAT stressed out from the addition. The breeds are andalusians, white leghorns, and ameraucanas.

After I added the 2 pullets, all 4 hens stopped laying eggs and STILL haven’t started again yet. Weather is good and daylight is the same length as when they were laying before. Does anyone know why they might have stopped laying and how to get them to start again/when they might lay again? I’m dying for eggs over here haha! They’ve gone from producing about 3-4 eggs/day to nothing. Thanks!

 

[sourland]

Change in flock dynamics can be enough to cause a break in the laying cycle. That may be what your flock is experiencing.

 

[hannahsocal]

Change in flock dynamics can be enough to cause a break in the laying cycle. That may be what your flock is experiencing.

Do you know how long is usually lasts?

 

[aart]

They’ve seen them before though for the past month and interacted before I put them together in the same coop, so they shouldn’t be THAT stressed out from the addition.

Well, seeing someone across the fence is different than having to eat out of the same feeder.
Are the males in with the girls?
The new additions may have sparked more activity with the males.

Do you free range?

 

[Mrs. K]

I would look for a hidden nest. When suddenly - all at once there are no eggs - it has always been a hidden nest. Sometimes the nests are in a place where it is impossible for them to get to, and sometimes the nest are hidden in plain sight.

Go down and sit with them for a couple of hours. Eventually someone will sing the egg song and you can find it.

This will also allow you to reassess the rooster/hen interaction over a longer period of time. I would be very Leary of keeping 3 roos, with 6 hens in a confined situation. Even if you let them out to 'free range' in the back yard, it is still a confinement. It may still be working well, but it might be beginning to cause havoc and raise the tension in the flock as much as stopping the laying.

Mrs K

 

[HomeofTheChicks]

I recently had this issue too! my hens were three weeks late to laying. I asked a friend what might be the problem and they told me that if you have too many roosters it can stress the hens out. I had originally had 4 roosters in with the 9 hens. After I got rid of all the roosters but 1, the hens started laying eggs 2 days after.

 

[hannahsocal]

I recently had this issue too! my hens were three weeks late to laying. I asked a friend what might be the problem and they told me that if you have too many roosters it can stress the hens out. I had originally had 4 roosters in with the 9 hens. After I got rid of all the roosters but 1, the hens started laying eggs 2 days after.

That’s so interesting wow okay! See the thing is with my flock rn, I’m a breeder so I need to have mtp roos. Usually I have them separate with their own girls but the recent storms in CA have destroyed 2 of their old coops (my fault for not building them better at the time lol). I’m in the process of constructing a new big coop with sectioned off pens, but in the interim, the boys are staying with their hatchmates (the girls). I wonder if it’s maybe a combo of the new 2 pullets and the boys getting older. I can tell you though that I cannot wait to get the new coop finished and have everyone settled!!!! )

 

[HomeofTheChicks]

That’s so interesting wow okay! See the thing is with my flock rn, I’m a breeder so I need to have mtp roos. Usually I have them separate with their own girls but the recent storms in CA have destroyed 2 of their old coops (my fault for not building them better at the time lol). I’m in the process of constructing a new big coop with sectioned off pens, but in the interim, the boys are staying with their hatchmates (the girls). I wonder if it’s maybe a combo of the new 2 pullets and the boys getting older. I can tell you though that I cannot wait to get the new coop finished and have everyone settled!!!! )

Good luck on your coop. I hope your girls start laying soon!

 

[Granny23]

That’s so interesting wow okay! See the thing is with my flock rn, I’m a breeder so I need to have mtp roos. Usually I have them separate with their own girls but the recent storms in CA have destroyed 2 of their old coops (my fault for not building them better at the time lol). I’m in the process of constructing a new big coop with sectioned off pens, but in the interim, the boys are staying with their hatchmates (the girls). I wonder if it’s maybe a combo of the new 2 pullets and the boys getting older. I can tell you though that I cannot wait to get the new coop finished and have everyone settled!!!! )

I have 6 hens. No roosters as they aren't allowed. I live in California too and as much as we desperately need the rain I am SO over it!!! Give me sunshine!!
My coop was built pretty well, for me, by a chicken owner. It is 8x4. I lock them in at night and they are high and dry. But all these rains made their entire living areas muddy! They did have brand new sod in their new area enclosure but the nonstop rain flooded their enclosure not long after it was installed so it's all dirt now.
The coop floor is dirt and stayed dry throughout all the rain for the most part. If it rains all night and day non-stop a small part of the coop floor will get wet from the roof!!
I worry so much for them but they could care less it seems.
Ive decided that as long as they are dry and comfy when on their roosting/sleeping places Im gonna be happy and they do have areas to get up or away from the wet.

 

[hannahsocal]

I have 6 hens. No roosters as they aren't allowed. I live in California too and as much as we desperately need the rain I am SO over it!!! Give me sunshine!!
My coop was built pretty well, for me, by a chicken owner. It is 8x4. I lock them in at night and they are high and dry. But all these rains made their entire living areas muddy! They did have brand new sod in their new area enclosure but the nonstop rain flooded their enclosure not long after it was installed so it's all dirt now.
The coop floor is dirt and stayed dry throughout all the rain for the most part. If it rains all night and day non-stop a small part of the coop floor will get wet from the roof!!
I worry so much for them but they could care less it seems.
Ive decided that as long as they are dry and comfy when on their roosting/sleeping places Im gonna be happy and they do have areas to get up or away from the wet.

What I did as a “last minute” fix for the terrible muddy run and coop floor was to go to Home Depot and get a bunch of those $3 wood fence pickets and I made an elevated floor on the whole bottom of the run with space underneath for the water to drain! It has kept them dry!