decreased egg production
Forum rules
Any advice in this section should not be taken to overrule advice by a certified licensed veterinarian. You should always consult a veterinarian for treatment or diagnoses of animal disease or injury. The information in this thread is simply the experience of board members and is not to be taken as a substitution for veterinary advice or treatment.
Any advice in this section should not be taken to overrule advice by a certified licensed veterinarian. You should always consult a veterinarian for treatment or diagnoses of animal disease or injury. The information in this thread is simply the experience of board members and is not to be taken as a substitution for veterinary advice or treatment.
decreased egg production
Lately, my 15 hens that are fully capable of laying have drastically reduced their production. They are almost 1.5 yrs old, and for the past few days, they have been laying 8, 6, and today 4 eggs. The only change is a temporary barnyard addition of a pig (just for this week), which they cannot see unless they are let out, and the pig is also outside in a pen. Could that be it?
1
- ross
- Teenaged Cockerel
- Posts: 4958
- Joined: Sat Dec 12, 2015 7:54 am
- Location: Parkhill /Thedford SW Ont
- x 8490
Re: decreased egg production
How's your lighting . Days are getting shorter but yes also strange noises etc will throw them off .
3
ENJOY YOUR HUNTING / FISHING HERITAGE & the GREATNESS of CANADA
- Killerbunny
- Poultry Guru - total zen level
- Posts: 7879
- Joined: Sat Dec 12, 2015 12:04 pm
- Location: Brockville
- x 10171
Re: decreased egg production
Mine have cut down and are getting ready to moult. A pig might upset them enough to lower production.
4
Beltsville Small White turkeys.
Mutt chickens for eggs
RIP Stephen the BSW Tom and my coffee companion.
RIP Lucky the Very Brave Splash Wyandotte rooster.
RIP little Muppet the rescue cat.
- Ontario Chick
- Poultry Guru
- Posts: 5402
- Joined: Sat Dec 12, 2015 10:12 am
- Location: Carp - West Ottawa
- x 9627
Re: decreased egg production
Agree with both ross and KB, time to start adding light, 1.5 year old hens will take a longish break without some additional light and molt is slowly starting so a double whammy.
3
- windwalkingwolf
- Poultry Guru - pullet level
- Posts: 3567
- Joined: Sat Dec 12, 2015 1:31 pm
- Location: Frankville, Ontario
- x 4899
Re: decreased egg production
Yes, that can do it. Any odd noises and smells can throw them off, any change in routine. Even a change in what you wear to do chores...if you usually go out in the same thing and one day decide to wear a floppy hat, you can throw them off for days. Pigs nearby will definitely do it, chickens instinctively know that pigs are opportunistic hunters. Plus,, 'tis the season for molt and diminishing daylight as stated above. Don't give up and buy more layers, or else next April you'll be swimming in eggs. Which make dandy pig slop, btw :)
2
- WLLady
- Stringy Old Soup Pot Hen of a Moderator
- Posts: 5613
- Joined: Mon Dec 07, 2015 9:55 pm
- Location: Rural near West Lorne and Glencoe
- x 8527
Re: decreased egg production
if you've checked all the regular (like mites, lice, etc etc) then it's probably light. mine are moulting like mad right now, feather explosions everywhere....tis the season as www mentioned!
0
Pet quality wheaten/blue wheaten ameraucanas, welsummers, barred rocks, light brown leghorns; Projects on the go: rhodebars, welbars
Re: decreased egg production
Thanks everyone!
The hens are outside all day within an enclosure (unless we let them out for fresh grass and bugs); they go into their coop to lay or to sleep at night. Actually, the BSL's "milk the day" for all it's worth and do not go into their coop at night until it's almost dark. On Monday or Tuesday, when we did let the hens out, they did get upset when they saw the pig outside in the hard paddock.
The pig's hours are numbered today, as it has been in our barn temporarily (just this week) in preparation for a pig roast on Saturday.
Also, I do have 6 RSL's on order for the end of September because we need a greater supply of eggs. The 6 Frey's Special Dual Purpose hens that we have are not great layers.... perhaps their days are numbered.
The hens are outside all day within an enclosure (unless we let them out for fresh grass and bugs); they go into their coop to lay or to sleep at night. Actually, the BSL's "milk the day" for all it's worth and do not go into their coop at night until it's almost dark. On Monday or Tuesday, when we did let the hens out, they did get upset when they saw the pig outside in the hard paddock.
The pig's hours are numbered today, as it has been in our barn temporarily (just this week) in preparation for a pig roast on Saturday.
Also, I do have 6 RSL's on order for the end of September because we need a greater supply of eggs. The 6 Frey's Special Dual Purpose hens that we have are not great layers.... perhaps their days are numbered.
Last edited by KimChick on Thu Sep 14, 2017 2:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
2
Re: decreased egg production
Oh yes.... now that the hens are about 18 months old, I shouldn't be surprised if they do begin to moult.
2
- Killerbunny
- Poultry Guru - total zen level
- Posts: 7879
- Joined: Sat Dec 12, 2015 12:04 pm
- Location: Brockville
- x 10171
Re: decreased egg production
we see you live in Westport, nice and local. Mmmmmmmm!
1
Beltsville Small White turkeys.
Mutt chickens for eggs
RIP Stephen the BSW Tom and my coffee companion.
RIP Lucky the Very Brave Splash Wyandotte rooster.
RIP little Muppet the rescue cat.
Re: decreased egg production
Pig is gone. All is back to normal. Everything is "tickety-boo".
EXCEPT.... if the hens would kindly divvy themselves between all of the laying boxes and NOT ALL lay their eggs in ONE box, all eggs would be intact without any broken ones! Grr! By the way, the one PREFERRED laying box is not always the SAME laying box. Maybe it's time to put the golf balls back into the nesting boxes.
EXCEPT.... if the hens would kindly divvy themselves between all of the laying boxes and NOT ALL lay their eggs in ONE box, all eggs would be intact without any broken ones! Grr! By the way, the one PREFERRED laying box is not always the SAME laying box. Maybe it's time to put the golf balls back into the nesting boxes.
2