Egg count just took a total nosedive . . reasons?

Millroad · #1 05/27/12, 11:34 AM

We have 8 Red Stars and 3 Ameracaunas that have been laying well, actually very well, since they started at 4 months old last June, so for about a year now. They haven't molted yet, and they laid well straight through the winter (we didn't use supplemental light, but we did use a heat lamp in the coop).

In recent weeks, the egg count has dropped from an average of about 9 per day to 6, and for the past few days we are getting only 2 or 3. No big changes in diet or environment. Anyone have any ideas what is going on? I can't believe that I may have to start buying eggs - gah!

Bearfootfarm · #2 05/27/12, 12:31 PM

If they free range, they may be laying somewhere else.
Keeping them confined a couple of days can tell you if that's the problem

#3 05/27/12, 12:42 PM

Snake?

GrannyCarol · #4 05/27/12, 01:11 PM

I'd look for a predator of some sort. I was losing a dozen duck eggs a day to a raven last year. Wasn't more than a few days before I figured it out and covered their pen with bird netting. I had one angry raven!

Sherry in Iowa · #5 05/27/12, 01:40 PM

For us..it was a smart two cats. Finally caught on to what they were doing. Hope you find your egg stealer soon!

Millroad · #6 05/27/12, 02:04 PM

There is no one stealing the eggs - I am sure of it - and they are not being hidden either. Won't bore you with the details but there is no way. Anything else?

GrannyCarol · #7 05/27/12, 04:49 PM

Are they preparing for their first molt? If they are starting to molt, they could be using their energy to start growing feathers.

Dusky Beauty · #8 05/27/12, 04:55 PM

Stress. From either Molting, shock, or heat.

chickenista · #9 05/27/12, 07:50 PM

They shouldn't molt until this coming fall..around 18 months or so.
So.. it is either a snake (my usual culprit) or there is something wrong in their world.

Either they are ill or something is coming around at night and scaring them.
I don't know if you have had a heat wave, though in N. Colorado I would say not.

eclipchic · #10 05/27/12, 08:14 PM

ours dipped off for the heat, but then also I found a clutch of about 18 egg recently so for us it was a little of both

pancho · #11 05/27/12, 08:43 PM

Sometimes hens will just take a break. Nothing wrong.
Hens do not always lay an egg every day.
They are a bird, not a machine.

MaddieLynn · #12 05/27/12, 09:06 PM

We were getting around 20 a day and it sudden dropped to 2 or 3. We figured it was just molting, but we discovered our GOAT eating the eggs! We rigged the henhouse where the hens can get in but the goat can't. Today we also killed a giant snake with 5 eggs in its belly.

mekasmom · #13 05/28/12, 05:57 AM

Did you happen to move your chickens recently? Everytime you move them, they stop laying for a time period, not long, but for a week or two.
If it is not that, then I would think about buffalo gnats or a coming molt.

Millroad · #14 05/28/12, 10:32 AM

We moved them onto pasture about 5-6 weeks ago, so I don't think it's that. No buffalo gnat problem around here. . . I guess I should check them for lice, though.

Their portable pasture coop is pretty tiny. It didn't seem to bother them last year, but I wonder if now that they are older if that could be an issue. They just use it to lay eggs and roost at night, otherwise they are out all day. It has a small porthole with a gangplank and is elevated, so, not easy for anything to get into. The electronetting is 40 x 40 feet, so it is easy for me to walk around inside and see that there are no hidden egg caches anywhere.

Does anyone think I should try to up their protein?