[Gerty333]

Does anyone have any suggestions, last week I noticed that my 2 ladies weren't as enthusiastic about their treats as they usually are. Since then they seem to be a little off, not eating as much and i'm only getting one egg a day. I've tried moving their water and food out of their coop ( they live in a converted play house), i've cut out the lettuce i was feeding them in case it was that. They're wormed and i've checked them for fleas/mites.

what could be wrong or what should i checK?

gert x

[New shoot]

What chickens have you got and what age are they Gerty ?

Generally pure breeds will lay seasonally and they slow down the egg production over the summer, so their food requirements decrease in line with this.

[Helenaj]

Could they have started moulting? Mine have all started together and my egg production is quietly dropping as more and more start their moult.

[Gerty333]

we've worked out that they are just coming up to one year old. Funny you should mention moulting because one of them is starting to loose downy feathers and look a bit scruffy - does that sound right?

[Gerty333]

oh and they are leghorn crosses ( can't remember what with) but we've been getting 6 eggs  a week each from them since about march time.

[Casey76]

Yes, it sounds as if they are coming into moult.

This time of year is coming to the end of the natural breeding cycle of birds, and nearly every bird which has been brooding a clutch will moult after the chicks are independent before starting to lay again.  This after-brood moult also occurs to birds which haven't been brooding as it is a natural phenomenon.

It is also better for birds to moult at this time of year, rather than mid winter (which is when mine tend too  )

So yes, I would expect a decrease in egg production for a few weeks, followed by a small resurgence , then a decrease again as they days get shorter going into autumn/winter