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

[helenmb]

I have had my two hens for 2 years now and since the middle of April we have not had any eggs. We were getting 1 every day and sometimes a very thin shelled second egg too (or a soft shelled egg that they sometimes ate).

 

I have tried everything, Limestone flour, Poultry Grit, Tuna Fish, Mealworms, Poultry Spice (all treats given in the afternoon only). They have organic layers pellets and bokashi layers mash every day (the limestone flour is added to the mash along with garlic powder).

 

My Bovans Nera sits on the nest during the morning (she is the one we think was the regular normal egg layer) sometimes for quite a while but still no egg. Short of me sitting all morning watching things (I am out at work all day so this is not practical) I can't work out what is happening ie if she is laying a soft shelled egg that they then eat.

 

I am totally exasperated as to what to do next. I have wormed them too. They have a 3 meter run so have lots of space and they get greens most days in the afternoon along with mixed organic corn.

 

Have I missed something, or is it just that they are getting too old for laying now. They both seem very healthy and don't appear to be moulting either.

 

Has anyone had a similar experience that is now resolved or just some good advice.

 

Please help as my less patient husband is threatening them with 'the pot' (but he is only joking - I think!).

[Egluntyne]

Have they been laying somewhere in the garden?

 

Sometimes they start laying under a shrub. Snowy once found a sizeable clutch of eggs in her garden.

 

I agree, two years is rather young to be giving up.

 

Why not try giving them just pellets for a while. If they fill up on other stuff it can effect their laying.

 

A spot of extra vit D might also help. Why not drizzle dollop of cod liver oil into their pellets.

[helenmb]

They aren't free ranging at the moment as they destroyed the garden, so no chance of eggs being layed anywhere else! Will try just the pellets and will have to close my ears to their pleadings for something tasty when I visit them!

 

Anybody got any other suggestions?

[Egluntyne]

Have you wormed them recently, and checked them for lice and mites?

 

Any of these things can stop the hens laying.

[helenmb]

Thanks again Egluntine, I'll give them a good once over for any stowaways! I'll also worm them again. Fingers crossed!