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Barnyard Buddies:  egg laying issues  |
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nampafarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
494 Posts
Kim
Nampa
ID
USA
494 Posts |
 Posted - Nov 09 2010 : 12:07:22 PM
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Backgrounf: I have about 7 1.5 yrs old hens and 10 5mth old hens. All summer I have watched some of the older ones loose their feathers (i assumed due to molt) and all but one got them back. I am afraid that she will freeze this winter if she doesnt do something quick, we live in Idaho. The problem I am having is that only 1-2 gals are laying any more. The older ones gradually stopped this summer and I assume this was due to the molt. I couldnt locate any bugs, etc on their skin. The new ones havent staeted laying and I am afraid that I missed the boat for the winter cos I have heard that since its getting colder, the new ones wont lay till next spring. Dang it! I am feeding them 20% protein lay pellots, even changed the brand I was using to another one hoping to get a kick in their diet, nothing. I stopped feeding them extras from the kitchen, hopeing that if their proten increased, that they would start production again. My 2 ducks do not lay any more either. I dont have a Roo any longer, I think he was causing some problems. He has been gone since June. I got my heat lamp going from 3-8am, nada.
Does anyone have any ideas of what I can do to get them to start it up again?
Yes, I have mentioned chicken enchaladas!
Kim
Farmgirl Sister # 302 |
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Ms.Lilly
True Blue Farmgirl
826 Posts
Lillian
Scotts Mills
OR
USA
826 Posts |
Posted - Nov 09 2010 : 1:27:40 PM
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Kim your girls will need at least 14 hours of light to lay eggs. Is your heat lamp a red light? I find that the red light does not count towards the 14 hours. If you can add a regular light bulb then set it on a timer and have it come on for a few hours in the morning and night that should help. I set mine to come on in the morning around 5 am and stay on all day because it keeps the henhouse "light" and set it to turn off around 10 pm. Mine are starting to lay again. I was getting 1 egg from the only girl who wasn't old enough to molt this year to getting 4. As far as the bald one goes I have never had that happen. I would think that mother nature would tell her body to start growing feathers soon. You can add some extra protein to their diets by giving them some cat food. I give my girls suet, alfalfa and kitchen goodies. Just be patient you will get eggs again.
Lillian |
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - Nov 10 2010 : 06:11:51 AM
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hi kim, lillian is so right. i have a 60 watt bulb on in the coop. it comes on at 2 am and goes off at 8am. i do 16 to 19 hours light. i found if i gave them any less they dont lay. yes if they have molted it takes a long time to get them to come back into laying. your right to up their protein number. it does help. i fed mine organic beef trim from our steer. that helped. chickens naturally eat meat. they are scavengers. so i feel ok about my steer meat. i feed my girls mostly real foods. the naked one is just a slow molter. so as lillian said she will come along. i sure hope you get eggs soon. i know its cold there. we only use lights when it gets extremely cold. other wise just a light bulb for laying. chickens are very hardy and tough. hope this helps some. oh also are they getting oyster shell? i forgot if you posted that earlier. length of day determines molt and laying. ya gotta fool the girls to think spring. lol happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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OregonGal
True Blue Farmgirl
511 Posts
Chris
No. IL
USA
511 Posts |
Posted - Nov 11 2010 : 8:02:11 PM
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In the past, my chickens stopped laying when I changed their brand of feed. When I change the brand I do it
slowly, adding some of the new to the old. But it is also correct the amount of daylight needed for them to continue
or start laying eggs. I let mine have a winters rest. |
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nampafarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
494 Posts
Kim
Nampa
ID
USA
494 Posts |
Posted - Nov 12 2010 : 12:09:30 PM
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thanks ladies. I will add more light and go back to my old food. I am also going to try the cat food.
Kim
Farmgirl Sister # 302 |
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nampafarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
494 Posts
Kim
Nampa
ID
USA
494 Posts |
Posted - Dec 15 2010 : 10:17:23 AM
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Update: I added light to both the early am and to the evening hours and changed their food and waited patiently. I went to the henhouse yesterday and discovered a couple of my new gals are laying and the older gals are also laying. I thought for sure that with the freeze set in, I wouldnt get any eggs, but boy was I wrong....I got 12 in one day! yoo hoo!
Kim
Farmgirl Sister # 302 |
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - Dec 15 2010 : 1:04:52 PM
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yipee kim, that is wonderful. i just culled my flock from 60 to 9. we will start with new chicks in spring. happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Dec 15 2010 : 1:24:53 PM
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Well, lucky you! I am so glad someone's getting eggs. And I am happy for you and glad for the gals. I have about 7 eggs left and haven't gotten any eggs in over a week. But that's ok.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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Kyfarmchick
Farmgirl in Training
31 Posts
Deborah
Bonnieville
KY
USA
31 Posts |
Posted - Dec 21 2010 : 12:17:32 PM
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In the winter time we add a bit of Tobasco sauce to their water and they will lay all winter.
www.centralkentuckymomstown.com |
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Countrysidegirl
Farmgirl in Training
23 Posts
Kellie
Yakima
WA
USA
23 Posts |
Posted - Dec 21 2010 : 12:53:09 PM
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my mom used to fix a "hot mash" for the hens when they started to molt. It helps them get thru it faster and start laying again. Lots of mashed potatoes with hot spices, I always got a kick out watching them eat it. They went to town on it, but cause it was hot they kept slinging their heads! lol
~Countrygirl forced to live in the city making the best of what she's got~ |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Dec 24 2010 : 03:51:51 AM
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If you are worried about frost bite, you can try a little vaseline
I know you can use this on wattles and combs for the same reason, so whay not? |
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Moodene
True Blue Farmgirl
353 Posts
Nadine
Devers
Texas
USA
353 Posts |
Posted - Dec 26 2010 : 5:08:15 PM
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I feed mine red pepper powder in their hot oatmeal and they just go nuts over it. I have about 9 eggs a day from 12 hens. I don't have extra lights in my henhouse. When I have one of my hens molt,I have made jackets for mine for the cold weather..LOL..
Love me like I am. farmgirl #801
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Rejena
True Blue Farmgirl
149 Posts
Rejena
WY
USA
149 Posts |
Posted - Dec 29 2010 : 7:41:43 PM
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Excellent news on the eggs. I'm glad to hear they have started laying for you.
Best wishes!
Rejena
www.violetacresfarm.com
"Kid Run Boer Goat Farm" |
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Barnyard Buddies: egg laying issues |
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egg laying issues
