Not sure why my chickens & ducks aren't laying?

[kiwibird143]

This has been an ongoing issue.

My 3 chickens have been unreliable with laying for months, sometimes almost going a week without one. Since spring has started to return, we've started to see about 1-2 eggs a day now.

I have 3 new adult laying muscovy ducks. They arrived 2 weeks ago. So far, we've gotten 2~ eggs from them since they've been here.
I figured the ducks weren't laying due to stress of moving to a new environment, but I'm starting to get concerned maybe it's something else.

Current Conditions:
- They all have daytime access to layer-feed pellets and fresh water.
- They have a fair supply of oyster shells already incorporated into their feed, as well as dried/baked/crushed egg shells when I don't have oyster shells.
- I occasionally put ACV in their water and food grade diatomaceous earth in their feed for immunity support.
- They all free range in a 1/4 acre yard nearly every day for the majority of the day.
- I've looked around the yard for where eggs could otherwise be, and I watch them often. I have not been able to find any hiding spots.
- There are few predators, no dogs, few things I could imagine that would stress them. They all seem happy.

My suspicions:
- We do live in the Pacific Northwest where there is often less sunlight. But my neighbors still get plenty of eggs?
- My chickens have had black spots/scabs on their combs, which have healed on their own overtime (within a couple weeks).
- A few months ago, I thought I identified a worm in one of their poops, but I haven't seen any signs of that in any of them since & they all act fine
- Perhaps their coop nest needs a deep clean?
- Rats have made a home near the coop, and they come out at night to try to get feed scraps. Not sure if that might have any relevancy
- We have one male duck who is entering his first mature spring. I keep the girls safe from him whenever possible, but I can't imagine his attention towards them would be especially abnormal.

This feels like a mystery to me! Any & all insights or ideas would be so appreciated <3 thank you!

 

[nuthatched]

Raise the protein level of the feed, try feeding a feed with at least 20% protein. The 16% in layer feed is the minimum require. ACV won't help them with them with laying.
How old are your hens and what breeds? They were likely on winter break and are now starting up again.
Diatomaceous earth is ground up fossilized shrimp and things. It's actually very bad for anything with lungs since it it causes irritation in the airways and lungs. The black scabs could have been fowl pox but it's usually not harmful.

 

[cavemanrich]

Sounds like you are doing everything correct. I just see that above poster gave same advice I was going to suggest. I also think you should discontinue the DE.

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and

 

[kiwibird143]

Raise the protein level of the feed, try feeding a feed with at least 20% protein. The 16% in layer feed is the minimum require. ACV won't help them with them with laying.
How old are your hens and what breeds? They were likely on winter break and are now starting up again.
Diatomaceous earth is ground up fossilized shrimp and things. It's actually very bad for anything with lungs since it it causes irritation in the airways and lungs. The black scabs could have been fowl pox but it's usually not harmful.

Thank you so much!

I read somewhere online once that DE (+ ACV) could help with illness – which is what I've been concerned may be at play here. I figured it was fowl pox but wasn't sure.

My hens are at least 2 years old. Two are Barred Plymouth Rock; One is Rhode Island Red.

I have to get more feed soon so I'll try a new brand. I wonder if there are any more protein supplements I can add to their diet? Appreciate your insights! This already makes me feel a bit more relieved

 

[kiwibird143]

Sounds like you are doing everything correct. I just see that above poster gave same advice I was going to suggest. I also think you should discontinue the DE.

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and

Thank you so much! I read somewhere online once that DE (+ ACV) could help with illness – which is what I've been concerned may be at play here. I'll try incorporating more protein. Appreciate the help!

 

[nuthatched]

Thank you so much!

I read somewhere online once that DE (+ ACV) could help with illness – which is what I've been concerned may be at play here. I figured it was fowl pox but wasn't sure.

My hens are at least 2 years old. Two are Barred Plymouth Rock; One is Rhode Island Red.

I have to get more feed soon so I'll try a new brand. I wonder if there are any more protein supplements I can add to their diet? Appreciate your insights! This already makes me feel a bit more relieved

Hi, I'm happy to help. Cooked eggs, tofu, yogurt, low fat cheese or meat scraps are all great for protein.
The raw apple cider can help prevent some things but not cure anything. De helping anything started out on some farm blog and turned into a brush fire, everyone was using it for everything because "so and so said it helped with____" but no one actually researched to see if it did or not.
The fowl pox shouldn't have any lasting effects, obesity they have it, they're immune to that strain. :] Hens in their second winter usually molt and go on their winter break longer than the first year.

 

[cavemanrich]

I'll try incorporating more protein.

Easy source for some extra protein is cat food. Most economical is of course dry cat food. My chickens raid the cat food dishes when they can. View my avatar. Have been keeping chickens for over 20+ years,, and all my chickens live long lives.
I suggest you start out with small amounts of added cat food free-choice. The results of too much protein in a chickens diet are,,, Runnier stools,, and smellier as well.

Cooked eggs, tofu, yogurt, low fat cheese or meat scraps are all great for protein.
and I agree, but are Human Diet Priced,,

If you have the above as leftovers,,, by all means feed to chickens.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Rats can eat eggs.

As far as why the hens weren't laying, as a general rule after about 1 1/2 yrs old hens will slow or stop laying in winter (usually accompanied by a full molt), so the fact you got any eggs at all puts you in better position than some of us, who see no eggs from adult hens at all during winter.

Ducks would be due to stress from being in a new home, but admittedly I know very little about ducks.

 

[Chickenlovermom]

They might have the bird flue

 

[cavemanrich]

They might have the bird flue

Not likely.. The Avian flu, is causing deaths in flocks quite quickly.