What happened to all of my eggs?!?!

Hi- if there is already a topic for this let me know and I can go it and read it, but if there are any ideas I would love to hear them!!!

We have 18 laying hens (barred rock) right now and I was getting anywhere from 11-16 eggs per day for about 6 weeks (5 hens are a year old and 13 are 7 months almost) and suddenly our egg production has dropped DRASTICALLY like 3-5 eggs for about 5 days now. They are free range- we had a yard connected to the hen house that we kept them in until all were laying and we took the yard down about a month ago with no problems until a few days ago. The hen all come to roost at night (I do go count them) and although I can't spend every waking moment I've tried to search them out to see if ... oh maybe 10 of them had found new places to lay (all at the same time?!?) but to no avail.

So there are 3 changes that have occurred in the last week-could these be the problem? 1. We started a box of eggs from our older hens in hopes that we could get a hen to set- At least one hen lays an egg in that box every day (they hadn't used it before because it was low) but has not stayed to set. 2. The weather changed a bit from being mid 90's (and high 60's) to upper 70's (and low 50's) I love that shouldn't they!?! 3. We did run out of feed for several days, but didn't think it was too big a deal because they are free ranging, plus they get their fill of the goat grain that is passed out too- we had just bought two bags of of feed, but realized that it was medicated and have not had the chance to correct it (until today). I read in one of the other threads that when one hen goes broody they all may- but I thought broody was actually setting on the nest. I really hope that they are just a little miffed at us or the weather has bugged them- if eggs don't start showing up again we are going to have to build a yard again and I really love to free range them. Plus our rooster gets all angry when he's cooped up- that makes getting the eggs (if we ever get anymore) a rough experience!

If you have any thought or ideas I appreciate your input! Thank you!

i think we discused it when catscan hens started laying her first eggs but i am not sure she will come round and confirm?deny it sooner or later

Josh

I deny it! I deny everything!

Actually all my chickens went broody over the last month, except the RIR. And last night she laid a shelless egg. But before that happened my egg production fell off too. Hot weather has been implicated by some, change in food regime could as well, but my worst experience has been Delphine's determination to find obscure places to lay her eggs. Once the other chickens saw her doing it they all started using her hidden nests. Now she has gone missing and I am pretty sure she is brooding somewhere in my overgrown yard or over-stuffed garage. When she first realized I was collecting eggs, she moved her egg laying to a tangle of morning glories--where one day I found over a dozen eggs.

So cheralea--I would look for a hidden nest. They will all use a nest if they like the place. And they do sit when they are broody--so if they are still roosting they are not being broody. But it could be the change in weather and/or feed regime.

My cousin lives in Kennewick!

Thanks for your thoughts!

We locked our hens in the henhouse for the day yesterday and I still only got 5 eggs, but they have feed again and I hope they will pick up production- it's not like it was freezing weather or anything!!! So- they are out and about again today- and we'll see- I looked around, but couldn't find anything hidden- of course I have no idea where they would go- I haven't seen them hanging out in anyplace new. I dohave another odd occurance though- I have ten 2 1/2 month old pullets that come home every night and get completely lost during the day except for one who hangs out- really odd- all ten used to follow me (or whoever) everywhere- now they are nowhere to be found during the day! They only roost in a bush by the hen house- every night I go move them to the hen house and I pray that when they start to lay they'll be integrated- or that it will be snowing (that would be a miracle) and they won't leave the hen house. Oh well, so sad I am slowly but surely running out of eggs- my family eats about 8-10 in one sitting so the 5 a day aren't exactyl keeping up, but the eggs will return I am sure.

Thanks again!!!

This message was edited Sep 6, 2008 8:31 AM

I hear you cheralea. I am eggless now too. Still haven't found Delphine and the Buff Orpington has chosen the communal nest to be broody in. I hear they RIR cackle like she is laying--but I can't find anything. No eggs for 2 days! But the Welsummer and Marans are due to come out of being broody any day now. Better eggs will come.

Ours arn't broody but they are not laying either. We get only a few eggs a day. Maybe they are lazy or on vacation from laying :) Telling them they need to lay more eggs hasn't helped either :)

I know i show my other girls what Gracie has done and show them the eggs and all, they just look at me like you go ahead and try laying one of them things.

i recall DustyDS mentioning that in August/September, nature is preparing for harvest, which means slowing down in production. i am certain everyone's will pick up again...

Oh yea I am sure it is the "change" and all.