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My hens are not laying I have 9 in all 4 free range rescues,now 2 years old and 5 ex-bats, now 18 months old ,I got them last July and they have all laid nearly everyday even through the winter,but I am only getting 2-3 eggs a day and alot of breakages.I get alot of very cross crowing from the henhouse suggesting a broody one but I have noticed the shells are quite thin so maybe it is bad luck and the eggs are getting broken by mistake not eaten.I try to get in to collect the eggs before another hen goes in to lay.Have they come to the end of their laying life?I thought they were too young for that.I have had some red mite in the house but have scrubbed and sprayed and dusted so now doing this weekly to try to get rid of any new mites,they all look very healthy very red combs all their feathers etc.We have recently reduced their roaming area for the summer but they still have 40 metre by 15 metres of grassy area and are fed garden mix consisting of shell,grit,corn,peas and pellets etc I have checked for worms and put cider vinegar in their water to keep algae at bay and it is supposed to increase laying.I just don't know what else it could be other than my Hubby is building rather near the pen with power tools etc and I wondered if this would stress them and put them off laying?
Can anyone help?
Clare

if they laid all winter, then they might well take a break now.

red mite also put them off, in my experience.. so keep working at that one.

re the eggshells.. might be worth trying just layers pellets. but you could get some oystershell.. they seem to like it

I would try giving them extra oyster shell as mine have always eaten that and lots of it, as well as layers pellets which is supposed to contain some in it.

I was given some eggs by a neighbour who keeps hers in a shed (never go outside and I doubt very much they have any grit or oyster shell) and the eggshells were nearly white and extremely brittle and these were youngish hens , whilst mine have always been brown and hard (until they got to the end of their laying life). I think your hens should have another year of laying at least.