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Barnyard Buddies:  hens laying and not laying  |
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GaiasRose
True Blue Farmgirl
2552 Posts
Tasha-Rose
St. Paul
Minnesota
2552 Posts |
 Posted - Oct 04 2007 : 12:20:52 PM
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We have three hens who are laying and the rest aren't. I am getting really upset about it too, because their accomodations are perfect for laying. We have three roos who are fertilizing, so they are doing THEIR job. I am feeding them organic layer feed and some oyster shells as well as kitchen scraps. They have enough laying boxes and plenty of places to roost as well.
I have tried to trick them using plastic easter eggs, but they just kick those out of the nests or break them open and play keep away with each other, (Which is super hilarious!)
DO you have any suggestions to get my girls a-layin'? two eggs per day out of 8 birds is not very impressive to me.
~*~Brightest Blessings~*~
Tasha-Rose
Blogs: http://gaiarose.wordpress.com
http://womonandsprout.wordpress.com
Homepage:
http://ForestFaeries.etsy.com
Birth is safe, interference is risky; TRUST BIRTH |
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PlumCreekMama
True Blue Farmgirl
730 Posts
Heather
Iowa
USA
730 Posts |
Posted - Oct 04 2007 : 12:35:00 PM
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| How old are they? If they have just started laying, I would say that's pretty normal. It takes awhile for them to get laying good. |
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Canadian farmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
482 Posts
Lori
Ontario
Canada
482 Posts |
Posted - Oct 04 2007 : 12:38:05 PM
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I used to have laying hens, and used an excellent book called Chickens in your Backyard for advice. Hens lay the most in their first year, after that, it's all downhill. At first I tried to keep them more than one year, but it became too expensive to feed them when they didn't produce enough. Also, once they were over one year old, their egg's shells got thinner, even though I fed them oyster shell, and they started breaking the eggs and eating them. What a nightmare, once that starts.
Also, a hen ideally needs 14 hours of daylight as it's the light that stimulates their ovaries. How is your light situation?
Hope this helps.
Lori |
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MullersLaneFarm
True Blue Farmgirl
596 Posts
Rock Falls
IL
596 Posts |
Posted - Oct 04 2007 : 1:45:18 PM
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I'm a bit confused. Do you have 8 birds total or 8 hens and 3 roos?
I would get rid of all but 1 roo for your ladies.
Do your girls free range? Are they in the hen house where their boxes are all day? They could be laying their eggs somewhere other than the nesting boxes. You may want to try leaving them in their coop until later in the morning or even early afternoon.
You may have an egg eater. Do any of the eggs you get now have yolks on their shells or is their yolks in the nesting boxes? If so, you have an egg eater and need to cull her/him.
Cyndi
Muller's Lane Farm http://www.mullerslanefarm.com
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GaiasRose
True Blue Farmgirl
2552 Posts
Tasha-Rose
St. Paul
Minnesota
2552 Posts |
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therealshari
True Blue Farmgirl
235 Posts
Shari
Beryl
UT
USA
235 Posts |
Posted - Oct 04 2007 : 2:51:31 PM
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We have 18 young hens and 3 roos. They are 24 weeks old and we're getting between 8 and 10 eggs a day now. I know most of our six Plymouth Barred Rocks were the first to start laying about three weeks ago.
I've seen the Silver Laced Wyandottes (2) and the Golden Laced Wyandotte (1)as well as some of our Buff Orpingtons (5) and White Rocks (3) in the nest boxes and laying.
I know we have two to many roosters, but we love their antics and their crowing. Being in the middle of nowhere, no one cares about their noise.
Shari Thomas
farmer, web copywriter, blogger
Shari's Gone Country
Vote for me at "Blog for a year" |
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GaiasRose
True Blue Farmgirl
2552 Posts
Tasha-Rose
St. Paul
Minnesota
2552 Posts |
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PlumCreekMama
True Blue Farmgirl
730 Posts
Heather
Iowa
USA
730 Posts |
Posted - Oct 04 2007 : 3:02:52 PM
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| I would say 1 rooster per 8 hens. I don't think 8 hens is even for 2 roosters, so they will end up fighting. Some books I have read mention keeping an extra rooster somewhere else for breeding if something were to happen to your other rooster, but I don't know if you want to keep a rooster by himself, I wouldn't. |
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OregonGal
True Blue Farmgirl
511 Posts
Chris
No. IL
USA
511 Posts |
Posted - Oct 04 2007 : 7:56:49 PM
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The problem is the lighting at this time of year. They need at least 12 hours of daylight to lay well. You may need a light on a timer in
the coop to go on 2 hours (maybe one for now) before sunup, and 2 hours (maybe one for now) after sundown. If there's any possibility
that you can paint the inside of the coop white, this would help keep the place brightened up or really using every potential available for
keeping it as bright as you can. Most of my chickens have quit laying, but basically I have some that will keep laying until
the light is really at its least, maybe the middle of November or the end of October. But if your chickens are young, its most
likely the lighting. In the spring when its lighter longer, they will really rev up and then you'll once again be swimming in eggs.
Personally, I don't put lights in the coop, I let them have their down time to recoup from all the egglaying. To each their own. |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Oct 04 2007 : 9:58:52 PM
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I think your problem is lighting and probably too many roosters too. I keep just one rooster with a dozen hens..it is enough..trust me. I have kept an extra in another pen with just a few hens Like Heather said, but three is too many for sure. They will drive the hens crazy "bothering" them.
Egg eaters are sneaky and it happens.
My hens don't all lay eggs every day either...and I get less eggs as the days get shorter..but spring..wow!!!
Jenny in Utah
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
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MullersLaneFarm
True Blue Farmgirl
596 Posts
Rock Falls
IL
596 Posts |
Posted - Oct 05 2007 : 06:25:09 AM
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1 roo for 20 hens is enough.
We have some where between 50-80 hens and no more than 3 roos at any one time. They free range so each rooster has his own 'flock' of hens
Definitely no more than 1 roo for 15 hens - the hens will be harrased and the roos will fight.
Cyndi
Muller's Lane Farm http://www.mullerslanefarm.com
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Oct 08 2007 : 03:37:18 AM
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I'm right there w/ ya! We have 12 hens of varying ages. You would think egg production would be better too, but between molting and snakes, a pathetic 4 eggs is about all I'm getting these days!
Look to see if there are more feathers on the ground than usual. Birds can't lay and molt at the same time....too much of a stress on the body. A complete molt takes about 2 months-or at least that's what it looks like! |
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faithmarie
True Blue Farmgirl
143 Posts
faith
wappingers falls
new york
USA
143 Posts |
Posted - Oct 11 2007 : 10:11:07 AM
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My granddaughter has 23 chickens and they do not lay as much as they used to anymore.she thought they were molting but she found out that the chickens had just slowed down in laying.She is getting 4 to 7 eggs a day.And she figured that they had slowed down because of there age.How old are they?And are there feathers coming of?
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven |
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GaiasRose
True Blue Farmgirl
2552 Posts
Tasha-Rose
St. Paul
Minnesota
2552 Posts |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Oct 12 2007 : 03:45:10 AM
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Bananas, HMMMMM
Ours like everything and have been under chickie lockdown since we planted collard seedlings. Last winter hubby thought a worm was getting to the plants, then he discovered my silkies gorging themselves on the leaves. OOps! Any table scraps leftover go to the chickens. They especially like blackberry puree from when I make jelly, and rice and pasta
As of 2 days ago, I let everyone out again to free range.
But I'm still just getting 4 eggs. Ours our definitely molting. there are piles of feathers everywhere snd some have nekkid necks and wing parts. Not from being plucked though, you can see the new feather shafts coming in. Better hurry though, it's turned frm the 90's to the 70's BURRRRRRR |
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MullersLaneFarm
True Blue Farmgirl
596 Posts
Rock Falls
IL
596 Posts |
Posted - Oct 12 2007 : 05:09:36 AM
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Anna,
I'll take the 70's again. We're dropping to the 30's at night and highs of 50's in the day!
Cyndi
Muller's Lane Farm http://www.mullerslanefarm.com
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Oct 13 2007 : 03:40:03 AM
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Oh boy! It got freezing last night. I wore sandals out to eat and on the way home, hubby and I kept ajusting the heat. He was too warm, I was freezing.
but then again, after meals i'm always a little chilled
Yesterday I only recovered 1 egg
I suspect there may be another lurking snake
This may even out though. For once laying somewhat resumes, my egg orders will pick up in time for holiday baking
I chose hardy layers and last winter they did themselves proud....after an extremely long molt of course! |
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Barnyard Buddies: hens laying and not laying |
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hens laying and not laying
