[doganjo]

I can't figure out why my four Wyandottes have stopped laying.
No red mites - they go into their coop voluntarily every night; no rats or Covid or anything else stealing them.
I have two standard and two bantams, all about 18 months old
One bantam went broody and hogged the nesting box for a while, but I kept moving her and she's fine now. During that time I was only getting one egg every one or two days , prior to that 3 or 4 eggs daily from start of lay in February
They've been wormed, they are all fit and well, eating, drinking and pooing normally. They have loads of space, food and water arrangements haven't changed. Plenty natural grazing for them, and I throw in extras daily, no change there either.
I've had hens for over 25 years, but this has me stumped.
The only difference in the timeframe is I've now got a one year old pup, but my older dog chased them to and fro along their run before that from when they arrived, and to be honest Tom is less interested in the hens than Missy is anyway
Any ideas?

[Fleecewife]

Is there anywhere they can sneak off to to lay away? Under a bush, behind a board? We had a similar problem when all 9 of our hens appeared to stop laying a couple of weeks ago.  We followed them one morning and found a huge stash amongst the straw bales.  You mention a pen though so it doesn't sound as if there could be anywhere in there they could hide. My rationale is that with the broody hogging their laying place they could have been forced to look elsewhere.
Otherwise perhaps the pup is having an effect on them.  I'm not sure hens categorise dogs as the same, just as scary critters, so might not relate a new pup to the old dog, so could still be frightened off laying

[chrismahon]

I think it's the new pup- they won't lay if they feel insecure. I have heard of this before with a pup.


You will need to keep the pup well away for a while and see if they start again. Can't think of any other reason, apart from egg theft (which we've experienced).

[doganjo]

That was my first thought but they went off lay about four weeks plus ago and he's only been here three weeks today. So the timing isn't right.  He doesn't bother with them so much as Missy anyway.

There is absolutely nowhere else that they could be laying.  Their coop is only about 2 inches off the ground.

Biggest mystery in the world. is this 

[chrismahon]

Perhaps something else has spooked them? Worth checking for mites again? Have you got rats under the coop?

[Perris]

I have had a similar situation here, with far fewer eggs than I was getting in April and for no obvious reason - other than the weather; some plants seem to have pressed 'pause' in this wretchedly cold and wettest ever May (here in Wales), and I suspect some of the chickens might have done something similar. Now that the sun has finally come out and temps are rising, I'm hoping we get playing again...

[Backinwellies]

I have had less too .... both issues here ..... colder weather and finding new places to lay (downside of PROPER free range! )

[doganjo]

Thanks [member=168910]Perris[/member] and [member=26580]Backinwellies[/member] - it helps to know I'm not alone

I'm thinking it's the strange weather too. We had had glorious sunshine and high temperatures these last three days, and I found a single egg both yesterday and today.  One was a bantam, the other a standard.  So at least two of them are thinking about it 

[Richmond]

The very cold April and wet May here in Norfolk has seriously affected my turkey breeding programme so it could have had similar effects on your hens. All our  (chicken) hens have been fine though and I was hatching in Feb with no issues.

[in the hills]

We've often found with our pure breed hens that we've had fewer eggs from them as the summer has progressed. In part but not totally due to some of them going broody. As though when spring arrives there is a maximum laying period and then it tapers off.

[doganjo]

Well, whatever it was that stopped them laying has gone.  Last few days I've had 2, then 3, then 2 today and I hear another cackling now .

Absolutely stumped as to why though