Hens not laying please help

[jessvolvochick]

I have 8 Australorps 4 are 40 weeks old and they were laying fine and regular but for the last two weeks they haven’t laid. One of them was broody but I separated her for a few days but still not eggs from any of them.
I have four about 26 weeks old and out of those ONE had started to lay about 6 eggs and then she stopped also when the others did. I can understand a small break but not all and not for those long please help. I clean out their coop regularly and let them out all day and it’s summer time here so really long days. They get good feed and lots of scraps and good shade around the yard. Do their combs have to be bright red for them to lay or do they just get redder as they get older from like a dark red? What else can I do to get them to lay?

 

[rosemarythyme]

You don't list your location but assuming you're in the northern hemisphere shortened daylight hours can cause a pause in laying (even with younger layers like your older birds) or delay onset (in the cast of the younger birds).

Broody birds don't lay and don't lay for a few weeks after as they recover body condition.

 

[Debbie292d]

It's generally less eggs to no eggs this time of year, in the USA, as I don't know where you are.

December 21 is the winter solstice, meaning the days start getting longer a minute or two each day. As the days lengthen, then start increasing their laying.

Other things impacting laying hens are as you said, broody, or molting.

A pullet's comb/wattles will usually turn darker or reddish when they're going to lay.

 

[Debbie292d]

You don't list your location but assuming you're in the northern hemisphere shortened daylight hours can cause a pause in laying (even with younger layers like your older birds) or delay onset (in the cast of the younger birds).

Broody birds don't lay and don't lay for a few weeks after as they recover body condition.

We were typing at the same time lol.

 

[jessvolvochick]

We were typing at the same time lol.

I am in Australia and we are in summertime so they shouldn’t be molting they are 8 months old

 

[aart]

let them out all day

Good chance they are laying out in their range area.
Time for some exams:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

Then:
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.

I am in Australia

Welcome to BYC! @jessvolvochick
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[jessvolvochick]

They are not laying at all no hidden eggs.

 

[aart]

They are not laying at all no hidden eggs.

How do you know for sure?

 

[Ridgerunner]

Hi, welcome to the forum! Glad you joined!

Many hens have bright red combs when they are laying and pale combs when they are not. That is a clue to the rooster that this hen is laying so her eggs need to be fertilized. When they are broody, molting, or otherwise shut down from laying for a while their comb can get pale. Like most things this is a sign that they "might" be. There are plenty of exceptions to this.

A common reason that are not laying is the molt. I know it is summer down there, it is not when they typically molt. But they are living animals. Typically doesn't mean always. Sometimes some molt out of season. Are you seeing feathers flying around?

A common reason they appear to not be laying is that they are hiding a nest. They can sometimes hide them really well in the coop or a bare run, let alone while out free ranging.

Is something getting the eggs? Your critters are different from mine. Many critters leave evidence behind when they eat the eggs. Snakes, canines, and humans do not. You may have others.

A snake typically eats eggs then disappears for a few days to digest them before coming back for more. If it is every day it is not a snake. If it were a dingo they'd probably be more interested in the hens that the eggs. However, a dog will often eat eggs and not bother the hens. Does a dog have access? A human usually does not mean a stranger. It can be someone playing a practical joke on you, that has happened on the forum before.

So what can you do other than Aart's butt check? Can you lock them in the coop or coop/run for three days? See if you start getting eggs. If you do that means you either locked them in from a hidden nest or you locked out an egg eater.

Try discretely marking a few eggs and leave them down there. If those eggs disappear you know something is getting them.

This is a very common question on here. Sometimes they are not laying for whatever reason. In your circumstances I don't have any suggestions that might get them started backup. Frankly I don't understand why they would all quit, though a few quitting isn't that unusual. Or they are laying and you don't get the eggs. It can be extremely frustrating.

 

[Yardmom]

Any changes that happened recently? Sometimes something new can disturb them. It may take a bit for them to get back on track.