4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Janepie33]

We have had Tilly since September 07. She is a Bluebelle from Omlet. She has been a consistent layer, even through the winter months. In the past few months her shells have become much thinner than the other 2 layers and she has produced some huge eggs.

I have noticed that she has become quite chunky in the last few weeks and doesn't seem to be laying as much as before. I think she is around 2years old.

Can anyone tell me if this is usual for a chicken coming to the end of it's laying days? She is perfectly happy and eats and drinks exactly the same as the other chickens, which are much thinner, but lay more eggs.

[StephanieSB]

She is a Bluebelle from Omlet.

 

I'm sorry not to have an answer to your question, but I was stopped in my tracks with "bluebelle" from Omlet. I thought Omlet only had two types of chickens? You can still get bluebelles from them?

[Janepie33]

When we ordered our chickens and eglu I wanted a gingernut ranger and a pepperpot, but Omlet phoned the day before to tell me that they had run out and I could have a Bluebelle and a Snowbelle instead, or wait for the other breeds to become available.

I couldn't wait!

[Egluntyne]

They had a shortage of their usual stock a while back and had other chickens for sale.

 

2 isn't very old really. Perhaps you should cut back on treats and just let her have pellets for the most part. That might improve her laying.

 

On the other hand, you could be right about her reaching the hennopause.

 

Each hen is different.

[Chickvic]

 

On the other hand, you could be right about her reaching the hennopause.

 

Surely a word to be added to the Omlet Dictionary!

 

Sorry Janepie33 I've only had my girls for a few months and no experience of when they stop laying, plenty of experience of them laying when they feel like it...

[superjules]

I've heard of speckeldy hens getting rather lazy and fat after their first year - maybe blubelles have a similar tendency?

[Ain't Nobody Here]

hennopause.

 

Surely a word to be added to the Omlet Dictionary!

 

Yes, indeed . I'm onto it .