Why aren’t my chickens laying?

[Blue Andalusian]

My flocks stoped laying and I’m not sure why. We feed them daily with oyster shells in their feed. They always have water. There’s nothing getting in and hurting them and the rooster we have with them doesn’t hurt them enough for it to stop egg production. They used to lay constantly now we don’t get any eggs between our two flocks(12 chickens) I don’t think it’s because of the weather because it’s been happening for so long.we just grew a new flock and 1/5 lays daily and all the others don’t lay much either. Is it because of age? One of our older flocks was given to us so we aren’t sure how old they are. Does anyone have any ideas? We recently had a chicken die from an unknown reason so I’m worried they might have some kind of sickness. Any answers are appreciated!

if they haven't laid for 7 months, they might have Egg Bound

 

[Blue Andalusian]

if they haven't laid for 7 months, they might have Egg Bound

or they found another place to nest and lay their eggs. Have you checked in spots where its closed in? where dirt, straw or hay is?

 

[nuthatched]

if they haven't laid for 7 months, they might have Egg Bound

Egg binding kills within 2 days and extremely slim chance that every bird was eggbound.

 

[gyzmo]

or they found another place to nest and lay their eggs. Have you checked in spots where its closed in? where dirt, straw or hay is?

We move the older flocks runn every month or so. I haven’t found anywhere where they could be laying. At one point we had an opossum that would sneak in and eat their eggs but the moment we caught him we killed him. Do you think there could be more eating their eggs?

 

[Blue Andalusian]

We move the older flocks runn every month or so. I haven’t found anywhere where they could be laying. At one point we had an opossum that would sneak in and eat their eggs but the moment we caught him we killed him. Do you think there could be more eating their eggs?

maybe, but you'd most likely see egg shells

 

[DesertPlainsWildWest]

I do but, this has been going on for several months. We’ve just gotten to the point where we’d like to know if it’s worth keeping them when they don’t lay.

That makes sense. I believe they are at least at the two year mark. One flock we don’t know because it was given to us and the other we’ve had for about two years.

I'm in almost the exact situation. Main flock 2.5 years old, a couple other reliable layers ~that age or slightly older. And 4 pullets almost 9 months old, barely an egg a week if that.

An older hen started molting early Sept, everyone followed and fully feathered again, but still not laying.

I have health issues and we pay kiddo allowance to feed/water/open close the coop door and she's tired of it. I too wonder if it's worth it at this point. She's not happy going out in super duper cold windchills in the winter and I don't blame her.

 

[Yardmom]

I'm in almost the exact situation. Main flock 2.5 years old, a couple other reliable layers ~that age or slightly older. And 4 pullets almost 9 months old, barely an egg a week if that.

An older hen started molting early Sept, everyone followed and fully feathered again, but still not laying.

I have health issues and we pay kiddo allowance to feed/water/open close the coop door and she's tired of it. I too wonder if it's worth it at this point. She's not happy going out in super duper cold windchills in the winter and I don't blame her.

It is normal for chickens not to lay when daylight hours are short. Do you or your family enjoy having the chickens? There are definitely cheaper ways to get eggs than keeping your own flock.

 

[DesertPlainsWildWest]

It is normal for chickens not to lay when daylight hours are short. Do you or your family enjoy having the chickens? There are definitely cheaper ways to get eggs than keeping your own flock.

Thank you for putting some logic in my thoughts, I appreciate it No, it's not enjoyable, we're attached to them like pets, but.... not enjoyable. Also like you pointed out, we've been buying eggs since Sept.

We have family a few miles from us that plan on getting chickens (they have our old coop), I'll approach the family tonight on rehoming them there. It would be a load off my mind tbh.